Frank Lampard explains N'Golo Kante absence from Wolves fixture
By Tom Gott
Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard has assured fans N'Golo Kante's absence from Saturday's meeting with Wolves is simply precautionary.
The France midfielder has only just returned from a groin injury which had kept him sidelined since the second week of the season, coming off the bench for the final half an hour of the Graham Potter era before starting the midweek draw with Liverpool under Bruno Saltor.
Kante had been expected to retain his place under Lampard and so the omission of his name from the matchday squad list came as a real shock to supporters, but the caretaker boss has confirmed there is nothing to worry about.
"There's no worries with N'Golo," Lampard insisted. "We're fine with him, we're managing him through.
"He's been out for a long time. We have a way of managing him. I was aware of that from when I was at the club before."
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With Chelsea's domestic season effectively over, the focus is largely on the Champions League and the quarter-final against reigning champions Real Madrid.
Chelsea will travel to the Spanish capital on Wednesday for the first leg of the fixture and Lampard is clearly working to ensure Kante arrives at that game in the best possible condition.
It immediately brings back memories of Chelsea's run to European glory in Thomas Tuchel's first season in charge. Kante was regularly injured but would always return to play 90 minutes in Europe, including across two semi-final games against Real Madrid.
Indeed, Kante won Player of the Match in both legs and even picked up the prize in the final against Manchester City.
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