Chelsea to consider another Kenedy loan move

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says Kenedy has been recalled from his season-long loan at Watford because he wasn’t playing and the club need to assess whether to send the winger back out on loan in January

Kenedy, 20, made 20 appearances for the Blues last season, but an injury-ravaged stint with Premier league rivals Watford has seen the Brazilian play just once, as a substitute in September.

Conte, who has taken Chelsea to the top of the league on the back of an nine-game winning run, said: “Kenedy wasn’t playing and for this reason the best decision was to come back and stay with us and to work with us to evaluate him this month and to take the best decision to stay with us or go on loan another time.”

Meanwhile, Conte says midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has “great potential” and is back in the squad after a difficult time with injuries.

But the Italian did not rule out sending the 20-year-old out on loan.

“He is in our squad and in this season he had a few injuries,” Conte said. “Now he is in good form. There is the moment when I speak with the club and we make the best decision.

“I am sure Ruben has great potential. I think is is important to show this and improve a lot on different aspects.”

Loftus-Cheek has only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League this season, with two starts in the EFL Cup.