N'Golo Kante is in danger of missing out on Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final first leg against FC Porto after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty.
The 29-year-old midfielder has looked to be getting back to his very best in recent weeks, and was particularly impressive in the Blues' win over Atletico Madrid in the previous round of the competition.
But after playing a full 90 minutes in France's 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Thursday scans revealed Kante has picked up a small injury to his left hamstring, and he will now return to London to be assessed by the Chelsea medical staff.
A statement from France read: "N’Golo Kante will not take part in the next two matches of the French team on Sunday in Kazakhstan and three days later in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"The Chelsea midfielder felt a pain in the hamstrings of the left thigh at the very end of the match against Ukraine on Wednesday at the Stade de France. He had clinical and radiological examinations on Thursday, which revealed a small lesion.
"In consultation with Doctor Franck Le Gall, national coach Didier Deschamps decided to put N’Golo Kante back at the disposal of his club on Friday."
If Kante is ruled out it will come as a big blow to Thomas Tuchel, who has been full of praise for his player since joining the club as mananger.
Speaking about him after the Atletico second leg, Tuchel said: “If you play with N’Golo you have half a man more; this is unique. He has a volume that is simply outstanding.
“It is a pleasure to be his coach, he is a big gift for me, a guy so, so humble and who is such a big helper on the pitch.
“But don’t underestimate his quality in passing, dribbling and escaping the pressure."
Before the game against Porto Chelsea face struggling West Brom in the Premier League on April 3, which Kante will almost certainly not be involved in.
