Chelsea boosted by return of three stars including N’Golo Kante ahead of Champions League clash against Lille

CHELSEA have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their Champions League trip to Lille on Wednesday.

The Blues welcomed back N'Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud and Kurt Zouma from injury as they headed out for training on a soaking wet morning at Cobham.

The French trio have all missed recent games but Frank Lampard will be thrilled they are back in contention as he looks to right the wrongs of their 1-0 home defeat to Valencia in this season's Champions League opener.

Giroud and Zouma both missed Chelsea's Premier League win over Brighton last time out through illness.

While Kante has been struggling with a hamstring problem since pre-season that Lampard is wary of.

After Saturday's 2-0 win against the Seagulls at Stamford Bridge, Lampard commented on Kante's omission and said: "Yes, it's an awareness. I didn't want to take the risk.

"I spoke to N'Golo about it, he's so important for us - we know that - but he's had a difficult pre-season.

"It's been difficult for us but mainly for him to get going because of the break up of his pre-season as his injury carried over from last year, so it wasn't right to risk it today.

"He could have a chance for Lille."

Antonio Rudiger, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Emerson were the only three from Chelsea's Champions League squad not to train with the group.