Chelsea Confirmed lineup vs Norwich City: Kante out injured; Kovacic, Abraham return

N’Golo Kante has been unable to recover from an ankle complaint as Chelsea prepare to take on Norwich City at Carrow Road for their third league game of the season.

Frank Lampard has made two changes to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester City last weekend, with one of these shuffles being forced on to him. N’Golo Kante has struggled with an ankle sprain all week, and the Frenchman has not managed to shrug off the minor injury.

Kante is replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the starting lineup, with the Croatian international partnering Jorginho in the midfield double pivot. At the back, Lampard has kept faith in the same four-man defensive line that has started each of the first two Premier League games.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson Palmieri remain the two full-backs, with Kurt Zouma starting at the heart of the Chelsea defence alongside Andreas Christensen. Kepa Arrizabalaga takes his place in goal, where he will likely be a busy man against Norwich striker Teemu Pukki.

Upfront, the second and final change sees Tammy Abraham replace Olivier Giroud, who is back on the bench. Behind him, the three-man attacking midfield line has not been fiddled with, as Mason Mount continues to play in the hole, flanked by Pedro and Christian Pulisic, with Willian and Ross Barkley being on the bench once again.

Chelsea Confirmed lineup vs Norwich City: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Abraham

N’Golo Kante has been unable to recover from an ankle complaint as Chelsea prepare to take on Norwich City at Carrow Road for their third league game of the season.

Frank Lampard has made two changes to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester City last weekend, with one of these shuffles being forced on to him. N’Golo Kante has struggled with an ankle sprain all week, and the Frenchman has not managed to shrug off the minor injury.

Kante is replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the starting lineup, with the Croatian international partnering Jorginho in the midfield double pivot. At the back, Lampard has kept faith in the same four-man defensive line that has started each of the first two Premier League games.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson Palmieri remain the two full-backs, with Kurt Zouma starting at the heart of the Chelsea defence alongside Andreas Christensen. Kepa Arrizabalaga takes his place in goal, where he will likely be a busy man against Norwich striker Teemu Pukki.

Upfront, the second and final change sees Tammy Abraham replace Olivier Giroud, who is back on the bench. Behind him, the three-man attacking midfield line has not been fiddled with, as Mason Mount continues to play in the hole, flanked by Pedro and Christian Pulisic, with Willian and Ross Barkley being on the bench once again.

Chelsea Confirmed lineup vs Norwich City: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Abraham