Middlesbrough boss Steve Agnew has admitted his great admiration for Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.

Chelsea meet Boro on Monday night.

He said: “He's been absolutely top-class. He's the one player who knits it all together.

“Any successful team, it's all about balance, whether it's physical attributes of quick players and big players, or whether it's technical players, or whether it's the workmanlike player who really does hold the team together.

“He's a player who I think has been probably as good as anybody throughout the season. He's had two seasons where he has been different class."