Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he will be without N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Armando Broja for the trip to Leeds United this weekend. The Blues head to Elland Road with both sides currently sat on four points after their opening two matches.
Key midfielder Kante picked up a hamstring injury in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. Tuchel feared after the match that the issue would keep him out for a prolonged period of time and those have been justified, with the France international set to miss several weeks.
Chelsea will also be without another important member of their midfield in Kovacic, who is yet to play a minute of football so far this season. Kovacic was an unused substitute in the opening day win at Everton, but missed last weekend due to a knee injury, which is again set to keep him out against Leeds.
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Striker Broja is also set to be absent in West Yorkshire, while there are doubts over the fitness of Christian Pulisic. Tuchel issued the following update in his pre-match press conference.
"[Kante is] quite serious, we are talking weeks which is not good news,” he said. “We are disappointed and sad because he was super important and fit. He will be out for several weeks.
"Armando [Broja] is out for days, Mateo Kovacic is out as well with knee problems. Christian Pulisic has Achilles problems and trained today. Let's see."
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