Thierry Henry backing Chelsea's N'Golo Kante for PFA Player of the Year award

Vaishali Bhardwaj18 February 2017

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has backed Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante to win this season's PFA Player of the Year award - labelling his compatriot as a "special" player.

Kante has proved an integral member of Antonio Conte's midfield this season, regularly starting games alongside Nemanja Matic for the Premier League leaders.

His ability to protect Chelsea's defence as well as drive attacks forward have been heavily praised by many this term, and particularly after he shone for the Blues in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in late January.

The France international also proved a crucial player for Leicester in their title-winning campaign of last season, and Henry believes the midfielder's consistency over the past two years show why he deserves to win the PFA Player of the Year award.

"I was at the Chelsea training ground last week to see Eden Hazard and noticed Kante wandering back to the changing room," Henry told The Sun.

"So I went over to him and stood in front of him. And I poked him in the chest. I had to, just to check if he was real!

"You are real, you are! I said, and he laughed.

Chelsea's Premier League run-in

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"I see no reason why he shouldn't be PFA Player of the Year at the end of the season. Usually, your Kante-type player goes relatively unnoticed. They are only missed when they're not there.

"But Kante is so special, you do notice him."

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