Chelsea boss Graham Potter has revealed N’Golo Kante will not be available for selection until the end of February or start of March as the midfielder recovers from hamstring surgery.

Kante underwent surgery on his hamstring in October, ruling him out of action for four months.

“He will be out for a while, end of Feb, start of March,” Potter said. “It was a surgery, so it is a minimum period of four months pretty much.

“I think my focus is to help him get back fit as soon as possible, everyone knows the quality he has.

“That is not in question, but it is about helping him get fit and back on the pitch, and looking forward to seeing him back playing football as we haven’t seen him.”

Kante’s latest injury ruled him out of the World Cup with France, but has not stopped him from being linked with Barcelona. His Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season.