Antonio Conte hopeful of having N'Golo Kante available for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Roma

  • Antonio Conte said N'Golo Kante would not be fit in time for Saturday's match
  • Conte's Chelsea travel to the south coast on Saturday to face Bournemouth
  • The Chelsea manager is hoping to have Kante for Tuesday's match against Roma

Antonio Conte is hopeful N'Golo Kante can return in time for Chelsea's match against Roma on Tuesday night but believes Saturday's clash with Bournemouth is too soon for the midfielder.

Kante has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring playing for France over the international break and hasn't featured for Chelsea since the loss to Manchester City on September 30. 

But Conte now hopes Kante can return to action in time for the Champions League group stage trip to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma.

N'Golo Kante was named the Premier League Player of the Season for his displays last year

N'Golo Kante was named the Premier League Player of the Season for his displays last year

'N'Golo is still not ready,' Conte replied when asked if Kante would be fit for the Bournemouth game. 'We have to wait but I hope to have him back for the Roma game.


Conte also confirmed Victor Moses was out and said Danny Drinkwater was still yet to reach the right 'physical condition' despite playing against Everton in the midweek Carabao Cup win. 

The Italian boss was defensive when asked to assess Chelsea's start to the season so far, bemoaning his side's luck with injuries. 

'In this moment we have to try to overcome this spirit because don't forget from the start of the season we had lot of problems,' said Conte.

Antonio Conte believes Chelsea have got the points they've deserved so far this campaign

Antonio Conte believes Chelsea have got the points they've deserved so far this campaign

'We had [Eden] Hazard's problem to start the season and then we have Pedro's problem and then we continue with Danny in first week of training with us. And then with N'Golo and also with Moses.

'Our start this season wasn't lucky for many reasons but I think we are doing well and we have the points that we deserve in the league and we are doing well in the Champions League.

'We also took the next step in Carabao Cup -  last season we were eliminated by West Ham in second round. But we have to continue to work'.

The trip to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday sees former Chelsea duo Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic face off against their old side after the paid left Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League table following last weekend's late comeback win at home to Watford.