13:49

N’Golo Kanté has been ruled out of Chelsea’s game against Sheffield United on Saturday and France’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Albania and Andorra next month as the Premier League club seek to ensure he makes a full recovery from a persistent ankle injury.



Frank Lampard has spoken with the French national manager, Didier Deschamps, to explain the situation and Kanté will be permitted to rest over the international break in the hope he will be ready to return for the Premier League match at Wolves in mid-September. The 28-year-old, whose pre-season was wrecked as he recovered from a knee injury, had complained of discomfort in his ankle in the aftermath of the draw against his former club, Leicester City, and missed last weekend’s win at Norwich.

“(His absence) is a setback, of course,” said Lampard. “But my focus is now on making sure he’s okay. He’s had four years of constant football at an incredibly high energy and output level. We have to get that right. I had a conversation with Didier Deschamps and we both agreed it’s the best thing for him. Let’s try and get him fit over the break.”

Chelsea will also be without Pedro against Sheffield United, while Antonio Rudiger will continue working on his own match fitness by playing for the under-23s against Tottenham Hotspur this evening. “That will be his last under-23s game in terms of gaining proper match fitness,” added Lampard. “The hope is he’ll then be in contention after the international break.”



