Chelsea boss Graham Potter confirms N’Golo Kante will be out of action until the end of February

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has confirmed that N’Golo Kante will not be available for selection until late February or early March as the midfielder recovers from hamstring surgery.

Kane underwent hamstring surgery in October, which sidelined him for four months.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League return against Bournemouth, Potter admitted it will be a while before the 31-year-old Frenchman returns to action.

N’Golo Kante is expected to return to Chelsea in late February or early March.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter said his priority is to help Kante return to full fitness.

The defensive midfielder’s contract will expire at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

Potter insisted his priority was to ensure the Frenchman returned to full fitness, when asked if a decision would need to be made on Kante’s future before he returns from injury.

“It will be some time, late February, early March,” Potter said. ‘It was surgery, so it’s a minimum period of four months or so.

“I think my focus is to help him get back on his feet as soon as possible, everyone knows the quality he has.”

“There’s no question about that, but it’s about helping him get fit and back on the pitch, and wanting to see him back playing football like we haven’t seen him.”

Kante’s future at Chelsea is uncertain as his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Kante’s latest injury has left him out of the World Cup with France, but it has not prevented him from being linked to Barcelona.

Although he is arguably one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, Kante has struggled with injury for the past 18 months and has only taken the field twice so far this season for Chelsea.

Potter also refused to discuss Edouard Mendy’s contract situation, amid reports that the goalkeeper had turned down a “disrespectful” offer from the club.

“It is not for me to speak publicly about the contractual situations of the players, that is between them and the club,” said the Chelsea manager.

‘The [Mendy] He has been top with us, with me, he is a great guy.

Potter refused to rely on reports that Edouard Mendy turned down a new Chelsea contract

“He’s happy at the place, but in terms of his contract, I can’t comment on that.”

Chelsea will return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on December 27, with Potter confirming that Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic will miss the game after their World Cup efforts with Morocco and Croatia respectively.

Wesley Fofana will miss the match following an injury setback, with Ben Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also absent.

Reece James looks set to step in after the knee injury kept him out of England’s World Cup squad.

Chelsea lost their last three Premier League games before half-time, picking up just two points from their previous five league games.

Potter hopes he has used the time off to put his stamp on the Chelsea team, currently in eighth position, as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16.