Graham Potter allayed fears Wesley Fofana had sustained another injury during Chelsea’s frustrating 2-2 draw against Everton.
The summer signing from Leicester City has already missed a large part of the season through injury but has begun to establish himself at the heart of Chelsea’s defence in recent weeks.
Fofana made another start on Saturday but was withdrawn during the closing stages with his side leading 2-1.
Chelsea and Fonfara’s replacement, Trevoh Chalobah, were unable to close out the game with Ellis Simms earning a valuable point for the Toffees.
Fofana was seen in the tunnel area holding an ice pack to his thigh but Potter insists the £72.5 million signing was taken off as a precaution.
He said: “Wesley] Fofana was fantastic, defended well, drove the game but he had to come off with fatigue with his hamstring.
‘He took responsibility. Lots of positives from the performance as a team and individually but there is a sour feeling when you don’t get the three points.’
Kante, meanwhile, is yet to feature for Potter having failed to make a single appearance since September but is in contention to feature during the run-in.
Potter, however, insisted the influential midfielder is not ready to be risk and will be eased back into the first team picture.
He said: ‘Kante is there on the bench and he is ready. It was a difficult one to come into for his first game, he has been away for so long but he’s ready.’
Potter felt Chelsea were undone by “cheap goals” as they succumbed to a late equaliser.
‘We’re really disappointed because we’ve dropped two points at home,” said Potter. “You saw the intention of the team, there was a lot of positive things in the performance. But ultimately we haven’t defended well enough. To concede two goals means it’s not so easy to win the game. That’s the disappointing thing.
First appear at Graham Potter explains N’Golo Kante decision and provides Wesley Fofana update
