N'Golo Kante in line to make Chelsea return in crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United as Antonio Conte claims he is 'progressing well'

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Antonio Conte has admitted that Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is 'progressing well' ahead of the club's crunch clash with Manchester United.

The Italian manager claims that he will make a late decision on whether Kante can play on Sunday after their final training session before the match.

Kante has not played since damaging a hamstring while on France duty last month and the Premier League champions have leaked 11 goals in six games in his absence. 

N'Golo Kante could return for Chelsea when they face Manchester United at home on Sunday

Antonio Conte's Chelsea side will look to close the gap between them and United on Sunday

Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash with title rivals United at Stamford Bridge, Conte said: 'He (Kante) is progressing well and we still have tomorrow... and then I will take the best decision for him and the team. 

'For sure, he is progressing well and I am very happy for this. We are talking about an important player.'

Chelsea sit four points behind Jose Mourinho's men and nine adrift off Premier League leaders Manchester City after just 10 games.

Victory would ensure Chelsea would maintain the pressure on those above them in the league but a defeat could leave them in a perilous position so early on in the season. 

Conte has hailed French midfielder Kante as an 'important player' in his Chelsea squad

Chelsea head into the game at Stamford Bridge on the back of their 3-0 defeat by Roma

And Conte already believes that it will be very tough to catch Pep Guardiola's side from Manchester, who have amassed 28 points from a possible 30.

When asked whether Sunday is already a must-win game, Conte replied: 'I think now there is a big problem for all the teams that want to fight for the title and this problem is Man City. 

'If they continue in this way, I think this is the big problem for all the teams, if they continue in this way, it will be very difficult to fight for the title but for sure, we have to try to do our best in every game and I think until now, we deserve to have these points.'

Conte says it will be 'very difficult' to fight for the title with Manchester City in such good form