Chelsea coach Graham Potter said on Friday that his team will get a big morale boost with the return of Frenchman N’Golo Kante, who injured his hamstring in August, but that midfielder Mason Mount will be absent.
Kante, 31, played just two games this season before his injury and returned to full training at the start of this month, but Potter said he would take care of the player’s condition when returning him to the squad.
“N’Golo has a chance to get back into the squad,” Potter told reporters ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game at home to struggling Everton on Saturday. “Kanté has been praised by all the previous coaches because he is a great player. We miss him so much. It’s great that he’s back but we have to be careful because he’s back from injury.” long”.
The London club is looking for its fourth victory in a row, after a march that included six matches without victory in all competitions.
However, the team will miss the efforts of striker Raheem Sterling, midfielder Mason Mount and defensive duo Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta due to injuries.
Potter also announced that Mount’s strange abdominal injury would rule him out of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Mount joined Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday but Sterling was ruled out with an injury.
Potter added, “Raheem has a problem with his hamstrings. It’s not serious, but he will miss the weekend match and international matches. The same with Mason. He will miss the England camp as well. Thiago and Azpilicueta are out of competition as well.”
Relegation-threatened Everton won three of their seven games under former Burnley boss Sean Dyche to move up to 15th, one point above the relegation zone, earning Potter praise.
“He’s a fantastic manager with an impressive record,” Potter said. “What he’s done with Burnley in the past is a fantastic achievement. Everton are in high spirits. We know how difficult the game is and we have to play well.”
