PA Media/dpa
London
France and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has been ruled out of the World Cup after undergoing an operation on his hamstring which will see him sidelined for four months.
The 31-year-old suffered the injury in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham back on August 14 and had surgery after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation.
A Chelsea statement on Tuesday said: “N’Golo Kante has undergone an operation on his hamstring injury.
“The midfielder visited a specialist with the club’s medical department to explore the options for his rehabilitation approach and it was mutually agreed for N’Golo to have surgery to repair the damage.
“Following a successful operation, N’Golo is now expected to be sidelined for four months.”
The decision to have surgery came after Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who has been unable to call upon Kante since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, admitted last week there were long-term concerns over the midfielder’s fitness record - he has missed 57 games since the 2019 Europa League final.
“Historically, there are things which have happened which are a concern, and we need to get the bottom of that,” Potter said.
“It’s a setback in the last stage of his rehab, so again that’s worrying. But all we can do is get the right diagnosis, the right consultation and then try and help him get back to full fitness and enjoying his football.” Kante, whose Chelsea contract expires next summer, has 53 caps for France and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in 2018.
Confirmation of Kante’s diagnosis comes two days after Chelsea team-mate and England right-back Reece James was ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee problem, meaning he too stands to miss the World Cup which kicks off in Qatar on November 20.
Bierhoff concerned as
injuries pile up for Germany
With the World Cup approaching, German football federation (DFB) director Oliver Bierhoff is watching the remaining games until the start of the tournament with apprehension as injuries are piling up.
“There is always fear that important players could drop out at short notice and no longer have time to be fit for the tournament,” Bierhoff told dpa on Wednesday.
Just on Tuesday, Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann became doubtful for the tournament in Qatar after suffering an injury on his left shoulder during the German Cup defeat to Darmstadt.
Gladbach coach Daniel Farke spoke of a possible “long break” after the game.
“I talked to him (Hofmann) this morning. It’s not my job to give the diagnosis or any further prognosis, but he sounded better,” Bierhoff said.
Hofmann’s absence from the World Cup, which starts on November 20, would be bitter news for Germany coach Hansi Flick. The player has become a key member of the squad due to his versatility, Bierhoff said.
Last weekend, Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané tore a muscle fibre in his thigh, while team captain and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has missed the past two games for the Bavarians due to a shoulder injury.
Bierhoff said, however, that there were no “warning signs” that Sané and Neuer could miss the World Cup. Hofmann’s situation is different, he explained.
