Chelsea boss Graham Potter identifies where it all went wrong for N’Golo Kante in latest setback

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been speaking about the challenges he’s faced since taking up the job, and key issues has been the state of key midfielder N’Golo Kante who is yet to kick a ball in the last 90 days.

The French midfielder has been one of the best players for the Blues but he’s struggling now for fitness and with his contract running out in the summer, the club has been forced to offer a new deal instead of watch him leave on a free.

Manager Graham Potter admits the midfielder was on his back before a setback meant he had to take it all from the top again.

He told reporters: “Absolutely. I think when we played the Milan away game, we had Reece, N’Golo was getting close and we were thinking he could be available, but then he has an injury at the backend of his rehab and then we lose Reece, we go from a healthy position to a not so healthy position.

“Our job is to try to get as many people back as we can. It’s been a real tough period, as challenging as there has been in my time as a coach. But we’re Chelsea and people don’t want to hear those reasons/excuses. We have got to get on with it and try our best to find the answers.”

The Blues returned to winning ways against Bournemoyth which has eased the pressure of Potter but he’ll know that anything but all three points against a struggling Nottingham Forest will turn the pressure again.

Injury to key defender Reece James has brought the moods down at Cobham but he is only likely to be out for month and with the January transfer window coming up, not many will bet against him returning ahead of schedule.