Frank Lampard has backed N'Golo Kante to be a key player for Chelsea this season following his machine-like performance against Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup.
Kante returned to the starting XI on Wednesday as the diminutive midfielder was left on the bench for the Blues' opening Premier League game versus Manchester United.
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And Chelsea's No.7 performed heroically, pulling the strings in the engine room of the pitch despite being unfit and injured.
Lampard has even shared his exchange with the Frenchman during extra-time as he described his tenacious approach.
"He said to me at half-time in extra-time that his legs were finished, his legs were dead; and then he's sprinting 50 yards to cover," Lampard revealed.
The Chelsea manager continued to praise Kante, saying: "He's an amazing player. Amazing character, he just comes to play, he's humble in his life but when he gets on the football pitch, he's a machine.
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"Of course, he's going to be hugely important. And this is a player that hasn't trained much, had a swollen ankle two days ago when we played on Sunday evening and he's wanted to play today and managed to cover 120 minutes and I think you saw what he brings to the team today.
"And there will be more because as I say he hasn't trained much. But I'm delighted to work with him, I respect him so much as a player, and now it's really nice to work with him and he'll be big for us."
Kante's set to start against Leicester City on Sunday and he insists he's happy to play in a more advanced midfield role for his team.
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"I like to play in this position, this is where I played last year," he said following his side's penalty shootout defeat.
"The coach asked me to play in this position, I like to do it. I know what to do with my teammates and we played a good game tonight."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Frank Lampard, Liverpool, Football News, Chelsea, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, N'Golo Kante
