Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: 'N'Golo Kante is pushing for FA Cup return'

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has hinted that N'Golo Kante could be fit enough to start Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool.

Kante has been absent for three successive matches after sustaining an unspecified injury during the 1-1 draw at Manchester United.

However, Tuchel has revealed that the Frenchman could be in a position to participate in the Wembley showpiece, admitting that the World Cup winner's return could be "crucial" to their hopes of victory.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: "He is also trying. He tried yesterday in training. He trained, more or less, everything. Hopefully now without a reaction. It was a reduced training session because of quite a long travel and fatigue, so it was not a high-intensity training session.

"We will also try today with him. He is keen to make it and hopefully he makes it to training 100% so that we can plan with him for tomorrow. It would be crucial for us."

Tuchel is also hopeful that Mateo Kovacic will shake off an ankle problem to play against the Merseyside giants, the German adding that he would be prepared to gamble on the pair even if they are not 100% fit.