Chelsea face kicking off the season without N'Golo Kante.

The Mirror says Chelsea are likely to be without Kante for the start of the season after he was sent home from their pre-season tour.

Frank Lampard was hopeful that Kante could be fit for the start of the new Premier League campaign but he has flown back to the UK after complications with his injury.

Kante has been suffering with a knee problem and has missed the duration of pre-season so far.

But he was due to return to action imminently and feature in at least one of the games on their Japan tour.

However, he suffered a setback late last week and Chelsea have admitted that he is unlikely to make the start of the campaign.

A Chelsea spokesman said: “N'Golo Kante has travelled back to the UK to continue his rehabilitation for an injury connected to the knee problem he sustained at the end of last season."