Chelsea star N’Golo Kante struck down with Covid-19 and will miss next two games

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N'Golo Kante has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss games against Juventus and Southampton as a result.

As per The Sun, his club is yet to confirm whether the Frenchman has gone into self-isolation following his positive result.

Chelsea won their Champions League opening group stage game earlier this month, beating Zenit St Petersburg 1-0, but came away with no points after they lost to Manchester City 1-0 over the weekend in the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel will, in fact, be without Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Reece James, all with injury now.

On Tuesday, Tuchel said: "Christian, Reece and Mason are out. N’Golo, unfortunately, tested positive and he needs to quarantine and follow the government protocols.

"He was not in training today."

Right-back James endured an ankle injury when the west Londoners lost City.

The German boss added: "It’s still very painful. "It will come down to pain management in the end and how much he can accept.

"Right now we are looking at a minimum of one more week."

Kante has been instrumental for Chelsea this season – helping the defence keep a wonderful record at the back.

But Tuchel will surely be in desperate need of the former Leicester City player as they play Juventus in the upcoming European game.

The former Borussia Dortmund coach was questioned by reporters whether footballers have a moral duty to lead the way on vaccinations when it was announced that Kante had fallen ill.

Is Kante Chelsea's most important player? Tell us in the comments section

He responded via the Guardian: “It would be easy to say yes now and get maybe applause from a lot of people. But at the same time do I have the right to say it?

"I’m not so sure. I can make the decision for myself, and everybody else needs to reflect about it and take a risk or not. I think it’s a serious question and vaccination seems to be a proper protection.

““I am vaccinated. But I don’t really see myself in a position to speak out proper recommendations. I think that would go too far. I’m a football coach, I’m not a 100% expert in this and I would leave it up to them. Everybody is adult enough and everybody lives in a free country, which is a good thing.

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