Kante Risks Missing Out On World Cup With Fresh Injury Concern

Written By Jacobs Dunga

The French international could be at risk of missing out on the winter tournament due to his niggling injuries.

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Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante could be out for as long as another three weeks following a relapse of his injury.

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The 31 year old has struggled with injuries since the beginning of this season with just two appearances to his name since the start of the campaign.

Kante was also limited by injuries last term as he was only able to make 26 appearances in the league for the Blues.

He helped France lift the 2018 World Cup with his relentlessness and dedication but could play little or no let in helping his nation defend their title.

French publication L’Equipe has it that the former Leicester City midfielder has suffered an “additional blow” in his race to be back on the pitch and could now miss the next five games for his club.

“On N’Golo, we are waiting on a reaction in training, and we’re waiting for the news on that,” Chelsea boss Potter said on Monday. “It is not ideal and certainly disappointing for both him and for us. So, we have to wait and see the extent and then go from there.”

The two time Premier League winner is yet to feature under new coach Graham Potter who arrived at a time when the French international was out injured.

He is however expected to be back in time for Chelsea’s last couple of games before the World Cup break which could still give Didier Deschamps a slight chance to assess his midfielder.

Meanwhile…

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has called on Cristiano Ronaldo to stick with the Old Trafford outfit after a summer full of controversy.

The 37 year old was bent on leaving the club in search of Champions League football but unfortunately couldn’t find a destination and had to stay on at Old Trafford.

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Neville has now called on his former teammate to embrace reality and get used to playing little due to his age.

“What I would hope is that, like with any other player coming towards the end of his career, he’ll accept that he won’t play every single game and he’ll stay and become a massive contributor like he was on Sunday night [in the win over Everton] and United will have a good season,” Neville told Mirror Football, speaking ahead of The Overlap Live at Wembley.

“If Ronaldo stays I do think they have a far better chance of being a top-four team, even if he doesn’t play every week and he comes off the bench like he did against Everton. But I suspect his mentality, his psyche is such that he can’t not play.

“He feels it’s an insult and people I respect enormously in the game think he’s being disrespected by being on the bench, but I don’t see that at all. I think Erik ten Hag has come out of this really well.”

Neville went on to say Ronaldo’s goal on Sunday against Everton can be a huge turning point for the five time Ballon d’Or winner.

“I thought it was interesting on Sunday when he scored that goal. I thought the players who were out there on the pitch really responded to that and I think you can tell a lot in goal celebrations,” said Neville.

“I have to say over the last 12 months there have been times where I can see when he’s scored or when someone else has scored and I’ve thought there isn’t much togetherness there.

“I did feel on Sunday there was a genuinely good atmosphere in the group who went to celebrate with him and I think that’s something that is really important, so the fact that that has happened makes me feel that he, at this moment, has got his head on.”

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