Chelsea confirm Ruben Loftus-Cheek and N’Golo Kante not included in pre-season tour squad
Posted by  badge Boss on Jul 10, 2022 - 12:07PM
N’Golo Kante has not been included in Chelsea’s squad which flew to America (Picture: Getty)

have confirmed neither N’Golo Kante or have been included in their squad ahead of the club’s tour of America.

Current regulations in the US stipulate mean that anyone wanting to enter the country must have taken the Covid-19 vaccination.

‘N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not travel due to their Covid vaccination status,’ Chelsea confirmed in a statement after announcing their 29-man touring party.

Chelsea pre-season squad

Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli, Edouard Mendy, Teddy Sharman-Lowe

Defenders: Marcos Alonso, Ethan Ampadu, Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Kenedy, Emerson Palmieri, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Harvey Vale

Forwards: Tino Anjorin, Michy Batshuayi, Kai Havertz, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech

The Blues have flown to Los Angeles where Thomas Tuchel and his players will begin a week-long training camp.

Chelsea are due to play Club America in Las Vegas next Saturday, before they face further friendlies against Charlotte in the Bank of America Stadium and conclude their tour with a London derby against Arsenal in Orlando on July 23.

Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic have both been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge this summer, but both have been included.

Similarly, Cesar Azpilcueta and Marcos Alonso have traveled amid mounting speculation the experienced defenders are set to join Barcelona.

Meanwhile, returning loanees Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Ethan Ampadu, Michy Batshuayi, Emerson, Tino Anjorin and Levi Colwill will get the chance to impress under the watchful eye of Tuchel.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell will also step-up their recoveries from respective injuries which ruled the pair out of action for considerable periods last season.

‘My main goal this summer and throughout the season is to be stronger,’ Hudson-Odoi told Chelsea’s official website.

‘There were times in the season last year when I was running with the ball and feeling like I could get barged off it or I’m not as strong as I thought I was.

‘I’ve been putting more muscle on in training to make sure I’m getting bigger so when the opponents come, I know that I’m strong enough to hold them off, or that I won’t get barged and I can barge them instead.’

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