Chelsea star Mason Mount is set to withdraw from the England squad due to injury as Graham Potter provides update on N’Golo Kante’s return

Gareth Southgate has been dealt a blow ahead of England’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers with Mason Mount set to drop out of the squad.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has revealed the 24-year-old is still suffering from a pubic bone injury.

Mount was one of four Blues players named in Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the upcoming games against Italy and Ukraine.

But in a blow to Southgate and Chelsea fans, Potter said he will need to recover during the international break alongside team-mate Raheem Sterling, who is dealing with his own hamstring blow.

Giving an update on Chelsea team news during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s home game against Everton, Potter said: “Raheem’s problem with his hamstrings n is not too serious.

“But he will miss the weekend game and he will miss the international trip [with England]Same with Mason.

“Mason struggled a bit with his pubic bone, he wasn’t a hundred percent last game, and he’s still not quite there.

“So he will also miss the England camp.”

Mount has missed Chelsea’s last three games in all competitions through the injury, with the club continuing a winning streak in his absence.

But in a major boost for the west London side, Potter said N’Golo Kante is in line to return to the matchday squad.

The Frenchman has been sidelined for the past seven months with a hamstring injury, his last outing coming in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham in August.

Commenting on the 31-year-old’s fitness, Potter remarked: “There’s a chance he’s in the team. It’s the first time [since he’s took over] so it’s fantastic.

He added of the 2018 World Cup winner: “Managers before me have praised N’Golo because he is a very, very good player.

“He was a huge miss for us. That’s not to say the other players didn’t give it their all, because they did, but N’Golo Kante is N’Golo Kante.

“He’s a top player, so it’s good for us that he’s back.

“We have to be aware that he has had a long injury, we have to take the next steps to get him properly leveled in the Premier League, which we will do, but it’s great to have him back with us.”

Kante is expected to become a free agent at the end of the season, but the Blues are keen to tie him to a new contract.