Chelsea beat Malmo 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday but midfielder N’Golo Kante did not feature in the matchday squad.
The Frenchman has already missed eight matches this season due to COVID and a groin injury and according to The Athletic’s Simon Johnson, some muscle tightness was the reason why Kante was not risked in midweek.
The reporter though has made it clear that the withdrawal was just a precautionary measure and he should return to action against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.
He wrote on Twitter: “N’Golo Kante complained of some muscle tightness in training yesterday which is why he didn’t travel with the CFC squad to face Malmo tonight. A repeat of the Norwich absence. Just a precaution, should be fine for Burnley.”
Manager Thomas Tuchel also made it clear after the Malmo win that Kante’s problem is not serious at all.
View this post on Instagram
The manager told the press: “We took the decision to build up N’Golo at home, so that he becomes a little bit more robust after several little injuries in the last weeks.”
Will Kante play against Burnley on Saturday?
Kante has been really injury-prone in recent years so it’s not a surprise that he was not used in midweek just to prevent another serious injury.
The midfielder’s last match was against Newcastle United at the end of last month and we have a feeling that Thomas Tuchel might not use him on Saturday either.
Loftus-Cheek has been playing some pretty confident football lately so there’s no need to risk Kante against Burnley, a side who have picked up only one win so far this season.
Burnley are currently 18th on the Premier League table so it makes no real sense to gamble using N’Golo Kante in midfield and risking another big-time injury. The only reason why he could be brought into the starting XI is if the manager wants to rotate and rest one of his midfielders.
