Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is 'hopeful' N'Golo Kante will return to full training next week, but is unsure whether the midfielder will be fit to face Manchester United.
Kante left Chelsea's pre-season tour of Japan due to a knee injury and the 28-year-old subsequently missed the side's 4-3 victory over Reading on Sunday evening.
The Blues went behind as Josh Barrett beat Willy Cabellero with an exquisite volley in the 13th minute, but goals from Ross Barkley, Kenedy and Mason Mount (2) gave Lampard's side the win at the Madejski Stadium.
Chelsea kick off their Premier League campaign against United on August 11 and Lampard holds out hope that Kante will be available at Old Trafford.
Kante, who has struggled with hamstring and knee problems since May, is yet to feature in pre-season, but Lampard is confident the Frenchman will join his team-mates at Cobham next week.
'Yeah, I am hopeful,' Lampard said following Chelsea's victory over Reading.
'He is training. He has dipped into training with us in the last couple of days.
'There is a lot more that he needs to do physically, off without us that he can do without any contact which has been good but the signs are good in the last three days that we have been back.
'It was certainly the right decision for him to come back here and get the treatment that he had. I expect him to be training through the week with us to the point that next week he should be fully training.'
Lampard stressed that Kante would not be rushed back despite the importance of Chelsea's opening match versus United.
'That one I will have to assess next week, and see how it is,' Lampard added.
'A natural base of fitness yes, but there is also 50 to 60 odd games coming this season so I have to make sure I make the right call on that because the players here have been training very hard.
'So if he is training at the start of next week then it is purely for me and the staff to assess where he is at.
'He is a top class player, so however much you want him in, at the same time you have to make sure he is as fit as he can be when he comes back.'
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