Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel must leave N'Golo Kante out of his starting line-up for tomorrow's Premier League finale against Aston Villa because he is not one of "best" midfielders at the club.
That is according to former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood, who believes the Frenchman should not warrant a starting berth against Dean Smith's side even if he is declared fit by the Chelsea medical staff.
Kante, who joined the Blues from Leicester City back in the summer of 2016, was forced off against the Foxes on Tuesday evening with a minor hamstring complaint, meaning he is touch-and-go as to whether or not he will be available for selection at Villa Park.
But even if he is given the all clear to feature in what is a huge encounter for Tuchel's side, Sherwood doesn't believe he should be included, naming Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho as the Blues' best midfield paring.
"At the beginning of the season, the two favoured was Jorginho and Kovacic,” Sherwood said, as quoted by The Chelsea Chronicle.
"It was only because Kovacic picked up and injury that Kante came in and was outstanding when he came into the side. He showed Tuchel what he can deliver.
"I’d play my best team in the first game against Villa. I’m not sure Kante is in my best. I think Kovacic and Jorginho are my best two in midfield."
Although Sherwood is against the idea of Kante featuring in the Blues' midfield, he does, on the flip side, believe the World Cup winner, who has been in excellent form in recent weeks, could be the ideal candidate to stop Jack Grealish from weaving his magic.
"Kante could be used because of Jack Grealish’s threat," Sherwood added. "Grealish is back now, picking up that ball.
"The last thing Grealish wants is Kante picking the ball off him."
On Friday, Tuchel issued an injury update on Kante following his early exit against Leicester in midweek, confirming that it remains touch-and-go as to whether or not he will be available.
"With NG [Kante] it's going to be very close but there are some hopes he joins team training tomorrow," Tuchel said.
"If not, he'll join on Monday."
Should the former Leicester man not be in an ideal condition to feature at Villa Park it is almost certain that Tuchel will take no unnecessary risks, with the German almost certain to want to call upon him to start next weekend's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto.
