N’Golo Kante will be sidelined for “several weeks” after suffering a serious hamstring injury, Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Friday.
The 31-year-old midfielder limped out of last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur after another fine big-game display came to an abrupt end — the latest setback in a career increasingly blighted by fitness problems.
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Kante remains a vital part of Tuchel’s squad but he started just 21 Premier League matches last season amid persistent knee and groin injuries, while he also contracted COVID-19.
And when asked for the latest on the France international’s availability, Tuchel said: “[It is] quite serious. We are talking about weeks. Not good news. We are disappointed and sad because N’Golo was super important and super fit. He will be out for several weeks.”
Chelsea will also be without striker Armando Broja and Mateo Kovacic against Leeds, while Tuchel is awaiting the outcome of an English Football Association inquiry to determine whether he will face a touchline ban after receiving a red card after the final whistle against Spurs.
Tuchel and his opposite number Antonio Conte were also both charged by the FA with improper behaviour after clashing twice and the Chelsea boss is being investigated for comments he made regarding referee Anthony Taylor.
Mike Dean, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for last Sunday’s game against Tottenham, has subsequently admitted that he should have asked Taylor to review Cristian Romero‘s hair-pull on Marc Cucurella immediately before the corner which led to Spurs’ stoppage-time equaliser.
