Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga says he'll be ready to cover for Edouard Mendy later in the season during the African Cup of Nations.

Kepa made only his fourth appearance of the campaign in the win over Southampton but it was the third time he had helped the club to penalty shoot-out success this season and he could be more regularly called upon in January when first-choice Mendy is set to be away for up to four weeks with Senegal at the AFCON.

But the £72million goalkeeper insisted: "Well, it's two months away. Of course we know it can happen and I will be ready but we have a lot of games until we start thinking about that.

"Let's go step by step and we'll see what happens.

"If he goes to the African Cup, all the best and I'll be ready. But it's still a long way to arrive at that point."