N'Golo Kante has been a key part of Chelsea's resurrection under Antonio Conte this season. 

The Frenchman joined from Premier League champions Leicester City for £32 million and has helped drive the Blues to the top of the table.  

The effects of his exit are still being felt at Leicester, with his former side involved in a relegation battle for most of the season. It does appear that they're now safe after winning five of their last six games under new manager Craig Shakespeare.    

Kante though has continued his personal rise to the top. He was included on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year, which was announced on Thursday.

The 26-year-old, along with his teammate Eden Hazard, is one of the favorites to win the award.    

 

Harry Kane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez complete the list.

As well as impressing his fellow pro footballs for a PFA nomination, he's also been impressing a Chelsea legend since joining the club.

Didier Drogba, one of the teams greatest ever players, has heaped praise on Kante, likening him to another Chelsea great.

"It’s amazing to see him play. He reminds me of Makelele", Drogba told the Daily Mirror, as per the Metro.

"You look at him and it’s like he hasn’t run at all during the game because he’s never tired."

The former Chelsea man won a whole host of medals while at Stamford Bridge, including four league titles, one Champions League, and four FA Cups.

He went on to reveal how Kante often escapes yellow cards after committing fouls.

"When he makes fouls, he smiles at you and you can’t even give him a yellow card. He’s really smart."

The midfielder has only picked up eight yellow cards from 30 league games this season, even though he averages 1.6 fouls a game. Incredibly, in the entirety of his title-winning campaign with Leicester last season, he was only booked three times in 37 games. 

It's an astonishing stat for a player who's main job is to break up opposition play.  

Does Kante deserve more yellow cards than he gets? Have your say in the comments below.