N'Golo Kante made his return to match action for Chelsea on Friday playing in a development squad friendly against Charlton Athletic. Kante completed 60 minutes on his return with Dion Rankine, Silko Thomas and Malik Mothersille all on target in a 3-0 victory.
Earlier this month, the Frenchman returned to full first-team training after missing all but two games of the 2022/23 Premier League season with a significant hamstring injury. Blues head coach Graham Potter then confirmed Kante was set for a huge step in his return to competitive action during the international break.
Speaking to reporters after the 2-2 draw against Everton last Saturday, Potter explained: "N'Golo's due to carry on training Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with potentially a game to give him some minutes." Asked whether a potential fixture would be versus an internal or external opposition, the Chelsea boss said: "We're still planning it but I think it will probably be internal. That will be good."
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Potter's initial thoughts on the plan for Kante have now proven to be true - albeit with the opposition not coming from within Cobham - with Chelsea confirming Kante featured against Charlton on Friday afternoon on the club website. The post read: "N'Golo Kante played 60 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this afternoon as he nears a return to action for Chelsea.
"N'Golo has been training with the squad for a few weeks now and will look to continue his return from injury in the coming days, before the full squad return from the current international break early next week."
The 31-year-old was named in a matchday squad for the first time since August 14, 2022 in the recent draw at Stamford Bridge against Everton. The midfield partnership of Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovacic has been formidable in the last few weeks, but Chelsea are hopeful of seeing Kante start alongside their British record transfer soon.
Kante is also embroiled in contract extension talks with the club, but through every passing day it looks increasingly more likely he will remain a Chelsea player beyond the summer.
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