Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Mateo Kovacic will be available for Chelsea against Leicester but conceded that the club will be cautious with the midfielder who is set to take a place on the Blues bench. Tuchel confirmed that N'Golo Kante was the only player set to miss the match through injury, suggesting that Armando Broja is also back in contention.
The 28-year-old has struggled with a knee problem and is yet to play a minute this term after seeing his pre-season tour disrupted with the issue. Kovacic was named in Chelsea's opening day squad to face Everton but following that, was taken out of training so he could undergo more rehabilitation to avoid the inflammation that was occurring.
Tuchel said: "He's back in the group, N'Golo is the only one who did not train now. Everybody is back in training, Kova is back in the group and ready to play some 20 minutes. We miss him as a personality and experience and his quality, it's maybe a 20 minutes at the moment. It's his first training week without a reaction in the knee.
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"We cannot rush things otherwise we would just sabotage our own plans with him, we need him long term. But it's good to have him back and as an option on the bench."
Kovacic returned to Chelsea training earlier in the week as he looked to put his knee issues behind him. The Croatian was pleased to do so.
He said: "It's nice to be back on the pitch after I missed two weeks. Tough to come back but very nice and I couldn't wait to come back with the boys on the pitch. I am ready for what's coming."
Things were not so hopeful over Kante, who picked up a hamstring injury against Tottenham in the second week of the Premier League. Tuchel reinforced that Kante remains out for a number of weeks and how big a miss the Frenchman is.
He said: "Talking about four weeks plus which is of course, I think I told you at the end of last season that he is our key player normally. He gives something to our team that no other player in the world can give to any other team. If your key player is out it's a situation that you don't like and have to deal with, but has huge influence of course."
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