Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté facing four months out after hamstring operation

N’Golo Kante gets treatment during Chelsea’s game against Tottenham in August before going off injured. He has not played since. Photograph: Javier García/REX/Shutterstock

Chelsea will be without N’Golo Kanté for four months after the midfielder underwent surgery on a hamstring injury on Tuesday.

Kanté, whose hopes of representing France at the World Cup next month are over, has not played since limping off against Tottenham on 14 August. The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries since 2019 and his latest setback will heighten doubts over whether Chelsea intend to offer him a new contract before his deal expires next June.