Frank Lamaprd has revealed N’Golo Kante misses Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Brighton with a hamstring niggle.
The influential France midfielder missed four games earlier this season with an ankle injury but made his return in last week’s defeat against Chelsea, scoring a fine consolation goal.
But Lampard will again be without the former Leicester City star who complained he was suffering an injury following Friday’s training session.
Without Kante, Jorginho will operate at the base of Chelsea’s midfield against Brighton, with Mason Mount and Ross Barkley charged with providing attacking impetus.
Hailing Lampard’s influence, Barkley told Sky Sports ahead of the match: ‘The arrival time in the box to get goals.
‘You see Mason [Mount] from midfield getting goals, you’ve seen N’Golo [Kante] get a goal against Liverpool. For midfielders it’s really important to get goals and I scored on Wednesday.
‘We’re early on into the season but to get shots away early doors for me, Mason, even Kova [Matteo Kovacic] and to continue to work hard on the training pitch if you’re not in the side, to put 100 per cent in and you’ll get your chances and you’ll get into the side.
‘I’m enjoying it. I’m working really hard. [I’m] in the England side and getting game time but I’m continuing to work hard with the manager on the training pitch helping each individual through the experiences he had on the pitch as a player. It’s helping us all develop really well.’
Lampard was forced into one other change with Fikayo Tomori starting in place of Kurt Zouma who missed out through illness.
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