Kante set for return but doubts remain over Kovacic

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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is confident N’Golo Kante will be fit for Thursday’s game against struggling Everton but admits he is unsure when Matteo Kovacic will be available after testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

Kante has missed the past five games after sustaining a knee injury in the 4-0 win over Juventus.

Kovacic, who only returned to training last Monday following a hamstring injury, only to test positive the next day, has not played since the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in October.


The Blues struggled at times against an energetic Leeds side on Saturday, something Tuchel believes would not have happened had either Kante or Kovacic been available.

“They are both crucial players because they give us options in the centre of the pitch,” Tuchel said.

“In games like against Leeds it would have been a perfect game for both of them.”

Croatia international Kovacic is currently isolating from the rest of the squad until Thursday but Tuchel said he remains in the dark about when he can call upon his services again.

“Kovacic has had some symptoms over the last few days but it is not too bad,” he said.

“But I don’t know when he will be allowed to come back. We need to wait to see what the doctor says.

“I know it will be the minimum of 10 days and then he has to post some negative test before he is back with us and hopefully that will happen.”