The one player each top 6 Premier League club can't afford to lose to injury

Chelsea

N'Golo Kante

While it may be Eden Hazard that provides much of Chelsea’s forward thrust, N’Golo Kante is undoubtedly the player they cannot do without. The Belgian is somewhat erratic in his form but the midfielder, by contrast, is a paradigm of consistency.

Signed from Leicester following his stellar exploits with the shock Premier League champions, Kante was a key reason why the Blues climbed to the top of the standings last term, offering his usual all-action style but supplementing it with a slightly more attacking approach.

It is no coincidence that the Blues have suffered from his recent absence due to thigh trouble, most notably defensively.

With him in their side, they conceded 0.78 goals per game in their first nine matches of the season in league and Champions League; without him they have lost an average of 2 per match.

These statistics make it abundantly clear how sorely he is missed from a defensive perspective, which is where the Blues have been suffering in his latest absence. The concession of the extra 1.22 goal per match has had a terrific impact on their results – and it is possibly even the reason why Antonio Conte finds his job under so much threat.

Chelsea cannot afford the 26-year-old to be out for an extended period. He may not be their most spectacular player, but he is certainly their most important.