KEY POINTS

  • Double footballer of the year returns after missing Middlesbrough win with thigh injury.
  • The Blues will claim fifth title in 13 seasons with win at The Hawthorns.

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is in contention to return for the Premier League trip to West Bromwich Albion after recovering from the thigh injury which forced him out of the win over Middlesbrough. The PFA Players Player and Football Writers Footballer of the Year missed just his second game of the campaign with the fitness issue but is available again as the Blues hone in on the title.

Victory at The Hawthorns will complete the first half of a possible league and cup double in Antonio Conte's first season in charge, with the west Londoners facing Arsenal in the FA Cup on 27 May. The west Londoners will claim their fifth title in 12 seasons by taking all three points over a West Brom side who are only playing for position in mid-table.

And that bid will be boosted by the resumption of Kante's campaign, which has again proved to be pivotal having helped Leicester City win the title last season. Asked whether Chelsea had any injury issue to contend with, the Italian responded: "All my players are available for the game."

He added on the France international: "I can tell only positive things about N'Golo. He always have a smile in his face, he is working hard and always smiling, it is fantastic. N'Golo is having a great season for us, I am pleased for him and to receive the best player award is great because in this league we have a lot of fantastic players. The best thing is that he has this will to improve, every day."

N'Golo Kante
Kante has only missed two games this season but he returns for Chelsea as they hunt down the title. Reuters

Despite agreeing a three-year deal upon moving to Stamford Bridge and enjoyed success in his maiden campaign in English football, Conte is being linked with a summer move to Inter Milan. The Serie A side parted ways with boss Stefano Pioli this week and reports in Italy are suggesting the Chinese-backed San Siro club are preparing to offer the Chelsea boss a £250,000-a-week deal to return to Italy.

Conte has naturally dismissed the speculation and insists he will see out the remaining two years of his contract in the Premier League. "I repeat what I said before, I have a contract, two years with Chelsea, but also I like to repeat for me and my players is to be focused in the moment, the moment is very important.

"It is not important the single person now, me the players, we must be focused on the moment. It is normal to have a lot of speculation, on me the players the coaches, we can't lose the focus, now it is very important."