Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has claimed that he is prepared to remain patient as N'Golo Kante continues to recovery from a hamstring injury.

Kante has not featured for club or country since October 7, but the midfielder is in contention to make an appearance against Manchester United on Sunday.

However, despite the club's 3-0 defeat to Roma in the Champions league, Conte has insisted that he is under no pressure to involve Kante until he is ready.

The 48-year-old told reporters: "Honestly, if I wanted to risk him I could have done this against Bournemouth or Roma. Instead I waited – I found a lot of patience to wait for N'Golo.

"If I decide to put him in to start the game, then he will be ready. It would have been wrong to start him against Bournemouth."

Chelsea currently sit in fourth place in the table, nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City.