According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is set to miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign if it resumes, owing to worries regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report suggests that the Frenchman has been issued permission to continue his training at home and that he is fully supported in his decision by both Frank Lampard and the members of the Chelsea board.
The report suggests that the midfielder arrived at Cobham on Tuesday as scheduled for first-team training, but then raised concerns about the situation at hand. Although he did return on Tuesday for the second round of COVID-19 testing, the Frenchman has made it clear that he is unwilling to take the risk of returning full-time. Watford ace Troy Deeney is another who has raised concerns, with Kante set to miss the remaining nine Premier League fixtures, if the season does resume.
N’Golo Kante To Miss Remainder Of The Season: What Does He Usually Add To The Side?
The Frenchman is arguably among the best defensive midfielders in the whole world at this point, even though he missed most of the 19/20 Premier League season due to injury. Kante’s biggest strengths are undoubtedly in the defensive phase, where his tireless work-rate and sheer willingness towards the cause make him an absolute pleasure to manage. Capable of breaking down even the most intricate passages of play, the Frenchman’s absence is sure to come as a slight blow to the team.
Can Chelsea Manage Without The Frenchman?
One positive for Frank Lampard will be the fact that they’ve gotten this far in the league without too much influence from Kante. The former Leicester City man missed large chunks of the season owing to injury, and made just 18 appearances all through the campaign, with a number of them coming off the bench as well. Although his three goals did come at key times, the fact that the Blues are so well stacked in midfield will be a boon for the manager.
Central midfield is one position where Lampard needn’t have even the slightest of worries, with a plethora of top options to choose from. Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho have both had strong seasons in the middle of the park, with the former earning massive plaudits for his improvement when compared to last season.
English ace Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to return from injury, while Andreas Christensen has been played in a more advanced role at times too. Players like Ross Barkley and Mason Mount, primarily attacking midfielders, are also more than capable of slotting into the anchor role.
Should Chelsea Fans Be Worries About Kante’s Potential Absence?
To put it simply, no. If there’s one team in the Premier League that’s equipped to deal with a missing midfielder, then it would have to be Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. The sheer amount of depth in the Blues’ midfield will fill the majority of the fans with confidence, while they will also be happy to welcome the Frenchman back into the side with open arms next season. Kante’s decision is understandable, and with Lampard and the board in support too, there’s absolutely no reason to worry about Chelsea from a footballing perspective.
