N’GOLO KANTE has handed Chelsea a huge fitness scare after suffering a hamstring injury before France’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Iceland.
The midfielder was due to start for Didier Deschamps’ side but pulled up in the warm-up.
He was replaced by Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko in the starting line-up.
Kante, 28, had been remarkably durable in his career up until this season.
Since 2012-13, he had only missed 12 league games in those six seasons – but has already missed four Premier League for Chelsea this season.
Kante suffered a sprained ankle in the opening day draw with former club Leicester City.
Frank Lampard got his wish in September when he asked France manager – and former Chelsea midfielder – Didier Deschamps not to call up Kante for the matches with Albania and Andorra.
Last week, Deschamps joked with Lampard about asking Kante to stay at home in the previous international break.
He said: “Lampard asked me not to pick Kante at the last rally, if it’s still that way.
“Maybe I’ll call him later to tell him it would be nice if you play Olivier Giroud a little bit.”
On Thursday, Chelsea suffered another injury blow as youngster Reece James pulled out of the England Under-21 game.
James is expected to be back in training and in contention for the fixture with Newcastle United on October 19.
However, Lampard and the Chelsea faithful must hold their breath on the severity of Kante’s injury.
