N'Golo Kante is set to miss Chelsea’s trip to Watford on Saturday and is in a race to be fit for Ajax’s visit to Stamford Bridge next week.
The 28-year-old has started just three League matches this season having suffered knee, ankle and hamstring problems before his latest groin injury.
Blues head coach Frank Lampard was hoping Kante (right) would return to training today as he finalises his preparations for the clash at Vicarage Road, but the game is expected to come too soon.
Chelsea host Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday and Kante is pushing to make himself available.
Lampard is determined not to rush the midfielder back after he suffered a series of setbacks which many attribute to his participation in May’s Europa League Final against Arsenal. He was expected to miss the match in Baku due to a knee problem, but ended up playing the full 90 minutes in what turned out to be Maurizio Sarri’s final match in charge.
Antonio Rudiger is available but unlikely to start at Watford having finally returned to full fitness since damaging his groin in September.
