N'Golo KanteGetty Images

N'Golo Kante unsure of fitness ahead of Manchester United clash

N'Golo Kante signalled that he is 50-50 to return for Chelsea against Manchester United despite joining the club's first-team training sessions ahead of Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Roma. 

Chelsea 13/8 for clean sheet v Man U

Blues manager Antonio Conte has managed Kante carefully and consulted him before excluding him from the matchday squad in the loss at the Stadio Olympico.

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Kante responded to reporters after the match who asked him about his fitness, saying that he is unsure about making the game against Mourinho's side. 

The 26-year-old injured his hamstring while away with France in the early October international break as he was substituted early by Didier Deschamps against Bulgaria. 

Conte spoke about Kante's fitness to Mediaset Premium before the match and said he decided not to risk his player's long-term fitness. 

"After an important muscular problem, it would be stupid to risk it, so when Kante feels at 100 per cent, he will return to playing," he said at the Stadio Olympico. 

Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas have started almost every match since Kante's injury, and while Danny Drinkwater has returned from a calf problem, he has not reached full fitness after a six-month period without playing football. 

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