There is good news for Chelsea fans as midfielder N’Golo Kante has returned to full-contact training with fellow teammates ahead of the Premier League’s restart in eight days time, with the news being confirmed on the club’s official website.
N’Golo Kante Returns to Full Contact Training With Chelsea
Kante Missed Initial Training Sessions
As Premier League sides slowly returned to full training on May 19th, Kante was one of the numerous professional players who opted out of this Project Restart, and for good reason.
Citing safety concerns caused by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic as the reason, Kante was granted permission to skip team training, requesting compassionate leave from the club.
Two years ago, Kante mysteriously collapsed in the side’s dressing room following a training session at Cobham. After being examined by club doctors, no specific problem in the test results could be attributed to this frightening incident.
Prior to Kante’s 2018 World Cup triumph, he sadly lost his brother Niamh to a heart attack, a problem which may run in the family genetics, as the Frenchman also lost his father at a very young age.
Kante Then Returned to Individual Training
Sporting a full head of hair much different from his usual clean-shaven look, Kante decided to return to individual training at Chelsea’s training ground Cobham.
This return was warmly welcomed by his teammates, however after only one session, Kante’s fears were reignited, as the Frenchman decided to continue training at home.
This decision was duly supported by his club.
He Has Now Returned to Full Contact Training
After corresponding with his manager Frank Lampard, who has done a great job in attempting to calm Kante’s fears, the Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg claims, “Lampard has been working to calm Kanté’s fears and that approach has had a positive effect”.
On June 9th Kante returned to training, playing five-a-side games and running drills alongside his Chelsea teammates.
Kante has been pictured putting in tackles on Ross Barkley, along with evidence of his famous smile which never seems to go away.
With Chelsea set to clash with Aston Villa on June 21st in their Premier League return, it still remains to be seen whether Kante will play a part in the Blues’ push for a Champions League place next season.
However, this news will provide great hope for Chelsea fans that Kante’s ability will play a vital part in the remainder of their season.
Whatever his decision may be, it is no doubt that it will be supported by true football fans.
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