Kante contracts COVID-19, adding to Chelsea's absentees for Juve clash

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante will miss Wednesday's group-stage meeting with Juventus after testing positive for COVID-19.

"Christian (Pulisic), Reece (James), and Mason (Mount) are out through injury," Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed before revealing Kante is unavailable for the Champions League match, according to the Independent's Harry Latham-Coyle.

Kante, 30, started Saturday's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City but was withdrawn after just under an hour. The Blues follow the midweek continental tilt with a visit from Southampton next Saturday.

Tuchel refused to reveal the vaccination status of his players, saying, "I am vaccinated, but I don't see myself in the position to speak out on recommendations."

James also started against Manchester City but was withdrawn after 29 minutes with an apparent foot injury. Tuchel expects him to be out "a minimum of one more week."

Mount was absent from the City match with an undisclosed injury.

Pulisic hasn't featured for the club since scoring in its season-opening win over Crystal Palace but represented the United States twice earlier in September.