Report: Kante likely to miss Europa League final after knee injury in training

Chelsea are reportedly expected to be without pivotal midfielder N'Golo Kante when they meet Arsenal in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

The Frenchman suffered a knee injury in training on Saturday, according to Dominic Fifield of the Guardian, and is now likely to sit out the all-English clash in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Chelsea's medical staff will assess the severity of the ailment, but Fifield added that initial impressions are "far from promising."

Kante, 28, had just worked his way back to training after suffering a hamstring problem earlier this month that forced him to miss two matches. His potential return would have been a significant boon for manager Maurizio Sarri, who is also without Ruben Loftus-Cheek after the young Englishman tore his Achilles during a charity game in the United States just over a week ago.

Those absences will likely see the Italian bench boss resort to fielding both Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic against the Gunners. The duo would be joining mainstay Jorginho in Sarri's preferred three-man midfield.

The Blues will go into Wednesday's contest already assured of a Champions League place next season due to nabbing a top-four finish in the Premier League, while Arsenal need to win to secure a spot in the continent's showpiece competition.