N’golo Kante: A big knock for Chelsea in top-four fight if Premier League returns

N’Golo Kante forms part of the those too worried to return to Premier League action but for understandable reasons. Where does this leave Chelsea in their top-four fight?

The Premier League’s Project Restart has been met with different reactions throughout. From players to none playing members, the reception has seen a 50/50 split.

One player who has been on the fence ever since the idea of Project Restart is N’Golo Kante. The reasoning for his hesitation is one that must be taken seriously and respected as fair.

"The France international has been given permission to train at home and he has the full support of head coach Frank Lampard and the club’s board. Kante was at Chelsea’s Cobham training base on Tuesday but has not trained since after expressing concerns.Kante lost his older brother to a heart attack just weeks before the World Cup in 2018. A few months earlier, the player himself fainted in training before being given a clean bill of health. (Via: Sky Sports)"

Frank Lampard stands by these rebels against Project Restart

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Kante’s manager Frank Lampard has already spoken out on his support and understanding for these players concerned about their health and safety of them and others. The Englishman touched on the matter after news of Watford’s Troy Deeney’s unwillingness to return to full training.

The Chelsea legend believes they are only human and they have every right to fell the way they do. Most noticeably, players are worried about those they could effect in the process of ending the current campaign. Endangering their family is the one problem no player wants to bring home.

If any player has a family member or friend with underlying health issues, they are more at risk than the carrier themselves. Players who have joined Kante, speaking in one voice is Deeney and Spurs’ full-back, Danny Rose.

Thankfully he made the trip for training

The good news is? He made the second round of testing conducted by the Premier League and Chelsea. The sad news? He never participated in the training activity. Hopefully, the COVID-19 situation improves and the developments put N’Golo Kante’s mind at ease.

If he doesn’t, Lampard and his Chelsea side could have trouble holding onto fourth place in the Premier League standings. It hasn’t been his best season for the Blues, with him being involved in all of Chelsea’s nine EPL losses this season. However, he still is one of the best midfielders in the modern game.

He will run the distance of three NFL fields in 90 minutes flat and make it look as if he hasn’t even broken a sweat, already looking towards the next trial. With the demand of many games being played in a limited amount of time, he is needed now more than ever.

When he is on form, the opposition needs to take extreme measures to try to stop him. They sit three points above Man United (fifth place). The fight for fourth is an intense one and one you need your most experienced players included in.