By Daily Sports on November 5, 2019

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has confirmed N’Golo Kante is available for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Ajax.

The France international has not featured since injuring his groin during the warm-up ahead of his country's Euro 2020 qualifier against Iceland on October 14.

After missing five games for the Blues, he returned to training on Monday and is in consideration for the visit of Dutch champions Ajax to Stamford Bridge.

Lampard told a media conference: “He is in the squad. It looks like the injuries are clearing up.”

The Chelsea boss, however, was unable to confirm when Antonio Rudiger might return to first-team action.

Rudiger was forced off at half-time in Chelsea’s 5-2 victory over Wolves on September 14, which remains his only appearance for the first team since sustaining a knee injury in April.

Chelsea are level with Ajax on six points at the top of Group H, with Valencia two points further back.

Lampard’s side come into the match fresh from a 2-1 victory at Watford on Saturday, which solidified their position in the Premier League’s top four.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s appeal against a transfer ban imposed by FIFA will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on November 20.

The Premier League side were blocked from signing new players for two transfer windows in February after breaching rules relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee claim Chelsea violated 150 rules regarding the protection of minors, with around 70 players thought to be involved.

That ban was partially upheld following Chelsea’s initial appeal to FIFA, although the club are still unable to bring in senior players, serving the first part of their suspension in the recent transfer window.

Chelsea were permitted to register players under the age of 16, but the club announced their intention to take the case to CAS.

The Blues are pressing ahead with their case ahead of the January transfer window, with the CAS hearing date now confirmed for later this month.

Should Chelsea be granted a reprieve, Frank Lampard will be free to bring in extra reinforcements when the market reopens.

It is unlikely that a club legend will be disheartened if the appeal fails, though, given how much progress the west London club have made at the start of his managerial reign.

Chelsea have risen to fourth in the Premier League table after 11 fixtures and are now only eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

A 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday extended the team's winning run to five league matches, with a crucial Champions League fixture against Ajax up next on Tuesday.

•Based on different stories by Reuters. PHOTO:  Ngolo Kante 

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 5, 2019

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