Chelsea duo N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic have returned to group training ahead of the Blues’ clash with Leeds United on Saturday (March 4). The pair have been sidelined with injuries but could give Graham Potter a vital boost if he returns to the team.
Kante has been out of action since August with a hamstring injury. He has appeared only twice in all competitions. The absence of the French midfielder has been felt, with the Blues without an anchor in midfield. Meanwhile, Pulisic suffered a knee injury in early January. The American winger has played 21 games, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Chelsea have confirmed on their official website that the duo returned to team training on Monday (February 27). Potter’s team returned to training after a dismal 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (February 26).
The Evening Standard reports that the Blues are hopeful that Pulisic can feature against Leeds on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kante will need more time to get back to full fitness after spending so much time on the sidelines.
However, the news of the pair’s return is huge for Chelsea, who are going through a torrid season.
They are 10th in the league, behind fourth-placed Tottenham, by 11 points. Potter has dealt with an injury crisis since he took over last September. However, only Armando Broja and Edouard Mendy are the players who will remain out after the return of Kante and Pulisic.
Chelsea are reportedly preparing to sell Marc Cucurella in the summer.
Cucurella joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion, Potter’s former team, last summer for £60m. However, the Spanish left-back has struggled at Stamford Bridge. He has made 26 appearances, providing two assists and helping the team keep eight clean sheets. His performances have been in stark contrast to his debut Premier League season with Brighton. He was named Seagulls Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
According to 90min, the Blues are preparing to put Cucurella up for sale in the summer. This would come as a surprise given his lack of time at the club. Alongside this, the Spaniard also offers competition to Ben Chilwell at left-back, the latter of which is plagued by constant injury problems.
Cucurella signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge last summer. He was joined by his former manager Potter in September, but the pair have been unable to rediscover the form they found together at Amex Stadium.