Frank Lampard’s fears over N’Golo Kante’s fitness see Chelsea boss beg France chief Deschamps to let midfielder skip international duty
FRANK LAMPARD has pleaded with France boss Didier Deschamps to let N'Golo Kante skip international duty so he can recover from injury.
Chelsea's new boss claims Kante, 28, has had four years of playing continuously and the exertions are starting to take their toll.
Kante had an injection in his knee to allow him to play in last season's Europa League final and spent much of pre-season in rehab as a result.
And the midfielder was only fit enough for the bench for Chelsea's opening weekend 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United.
He injured his ankle at Old Trafford but played through the pain in the Blues' Uefa Super Cup defeat to Liverpool and also their home Premier League draw with Leicester.
But Saturday's trip to Carrow Road was too much for the Frenchman, according to his boss.
But Kante was a key part of France's 2018 World Cup winning side.
And with Les Bleus having Euro 2020 qualifiers against Andorra and Albania in two weeks time, Deschamps will not want to be without him.
But in an obvious hint to the French boss, Lampard made it clear how he would like the situation to play out.
Speaking after claiming his first win as Chelsea manager with a 3-2 win at Norwich, Lampard said: ";It is a difficult one because he has had four years of constantly playing.
"The injury from the Europa League final has affected his pre-season and then he hurt himself against Man Utd.
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"We are trying to get him through it but today was too painful.
"The international break will be great for him to get the injury right.
"It would be great for everybody [if Kante stays] because he’s been playing game after game after game."
