{"id":552503,"date":"2020-05-29T03:27:54","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T07:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=552503"},"modified":"2020-05-29T03:27:54","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T07:27:54","slug":"report-chelseas-ngolo-kante-returns-to-individual-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/05\/29\/report-chelseas-ngolo-kante-returns-to-individual-training\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante Returns to Individual Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea<\/a> midfielder N’Golo Kante<\/a> returned to training this week, in what is a welcomed bit of good news for the Blues. Both The Guardian<\/a> and the BBC<\/a> reported that the World Cup winner returned on Thursday, although The Athletic<\/a> said he trained at Cobham “for the last few days.” Either way, his return to individual training, not with teammates, is a welcomed one.<\/p>\n

Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante Returns to Individual Training<\/h2>\n

Kante’s Fears Calmed<\/h3>\n

Kante attended Chelsea’s first training session last Tuesday when Premier League clubs returned to non-contact training. But after one session, he asked the club for compassionate leave<\/a> due to his fears regarding the coronavirus. The club, of course, granted his request and he went back training from home.<\/p>\n

It raised concerns whether he would play again this season. If Kante were to miss the final nine games of the year though, it certainly would have put Chelsea at a massive disadvantage in the battle for top four.<\/p>\n

But now, the Premier League clubs unanimously voted to begin contact training<\/a>. Secondly, Kante returned to training this week, exponentially increasing the chances he steps on the pitch when the season restarts.<\/p>\n

According to The Guardian<\/a>, Blues manager Frank Lampard has made a huge impact in getting him back to Cobham for training. “Lampard has been working to calm Kant\u00e9\u2019s fears and that approach has had a positive effect,” Jacob Steinberg reported.<\/p>\n

Chelsea Return to Top Four Fight<\/h3>\n

The Premier League announced Thursday it will return<\/a> from the lengthy coronavirus stoppage on Wednesday 17 June. That night will see two matches, Manchester City<\/a> hosting Arsenal<\/a> and Aston Villa<\/a> at home to Sheffield United<\/a>, the two games in hand that needed rescheduling due to the Carabao Cup Final in which City beat Villa 2-1 on 1 March.<\/p>\n

Following the two midweek games in the league’s soft relaunch, the full slate of fixtures will take place at the weekend. And for Chelsea, that’s a run-in with the Villans. In the reverse fixture in December, the Blues won at Stamford Bridge 2-1 thanks to goals either side of halftime from Tammy Abraham<\/a> and Mason Mount<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Blues currently sit fourth on 48 points, only three above Manchester United<\/a>. With Kante, it would’ve been a challenge to qualify for Europe. Without him, it would’ve made life infinitely harder. Thankfully, Chelsea will most likely have their midfield enforcer back.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>