Chelsea star N’Golo Kante marked his long-awaited return to the pitch on Friday, with a pair of Blues teammates having been keen to show their support for the Frenchman.
Midfielder Kante, of course, has endured a nightmare campaign to date.
After featuring from the off in each of Chelsea’s first two fixtures of the term, against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, a hamstring injury has kept the former Leicester City man sidelined ever since.
Word of Kante marking his return to training earlier this month, in turn, had seen understandable excitement begin to spread across the Pensioners’ fanbase.
And, as alluded to above, late on Friday, the 31-year-old moved another step closer to lining out under the watch of Graham Potter for the first time.
This came as Kante featured, and looked ‘sharp’, in a behind-closed-doors friendly meeting with Charlton Athletic.
As per @chelseayouth, N’Golo Kante played in a friendly for #CFC today. Am told he looked sharp. Good news as he steps up his comeback. More here: https://t.co/BkzJ7g18hE
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) March 24, 2023
As showcased in the images below, Thiago Silva and Mason Mount took their respective places in the stands, to show their support for a beloved figure in west London.
The latter, hotly tipped for a Stamford Bridge exit this summer, even donned a jersey featuring Kante’s name and number on Friday evening:
N’Golo Kanté, finally back on the pitch in a friendly for Chelsea after being injured for 7 months 🔵🔙 #CFC
Here are his teammates Mason Mount and Thiago Silva both in the stands to support Kanté after difficult months. pic.twitter.com/B7SuToQfl8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 24, 2023
Bayern release official statement on the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann
Revealed: The seven players Arsenal are ready to sell this summer
