N'Golo Kante unsure of fitness ahead of Manchester United clash

Nizaar Kinsella

N'Golo Kante unsure of fitness ahead of Manchester United clash image

N'Golo Kante signalled that he is 50-50 to return for Chelsea against Manchester United despite joining the club's first-team training sessions ahead of Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Roma. 

Chelsea 13/8 for clean sheet v Man U

Blues manager Antonio Conte has managed Kante carefully and consulted him before excluding him from the matchday squad in the loss at the Stadio Olympico.

Kante responded to reporters after the match who asked him about his fitness, saying that he is unsure about making the game against Mourinho's side. 

The 26-year-old injured his hamstring while away with France in the early October international break as he was substituted early by Didier Deschamps against Bulgaria. 

Conte spoke about Kante's fitness to Mediaset Premium before the match and said he decided not to risk his player's long-term fitness. 

"After an important muscular problem, it would be stupid to risk it, so when Kante feels at 100 per cent, he will return to playing," he said at the Stadio Olympico. 

Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas have started almost every match since Kante's injury, and while Danny Drinkwater has returned from a calf problem, he has not reached full fitness after a six-month period without playing football. 

Nizaar Kinsella

Nizaar Kinsella Photo

Nizaar Kinsella is a Chelsea correspondent with experience covering international football at the World Cup and European Championships. He is a trusted voice within the Chelsea community, attending almost every game and having spent many years doing so. Coverage on Goal.com has seen him invited onto CNN, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport and BeINSports to comment on the turbulent world of the Stamford Bridge club. He previously worked for the Daily Mirror and BBC Radio Manchester, as well as a period working in the UK charity sector.