N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba will share the midfield spotlight in Monday’s FA Cup

N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba will undoubtedly both receive extra attention on Monday night. The stakes are high, and Chelsea need Kante to be on top form once again.

N’golo Kante has cemented his place in Antonio Conte’s starting XI, and in the hearts of all Chelsea fans. He does so little the least bit wrong.

It can be tiring to reward a skillful player with comparisons to another. But Kante’s and Pogba’s seasons are so closely intertwined that it is inevitable, particularly for a game like this.

N’Golo Kante will go down as the greatest bargain in the history of transfers. Paul Pogba returned to England on a record transfer fee. Kante leads the Monday headlines because he is a little genius. Pogba, because he has yet to deliver on the huge expectations his reputation and fee have set for him.

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In that October fixture, Kante shone in his midfield duties and even broke onto the score-sheet. Pogba was forgettable, as was every other Manchester United player that day. But Pogba is still yet to prove his worth and his importance to the United team.

Although both players are midfielders, each has opposing responsibilities. Despite this, there is a considerable difference in the impact they have had for their respective teams. As a defensive midfielder, Kante has performed phenomenally. He averages 2.3 interceptions and 3.6 tackles per game. Staggering statistics.

Pogba is more attacking-minded. His positioning in the centre three is in his comfort zone, but has yielded little reward.. His shooting accuracy stands at 33%. In 28 Premier League appearances, he has only four goals and three assists.

These statistics will not tell the whole story, but are telling to the average influence that each player has in the flow of a game. Kante clearly has the upper hand, and always displays a quiet confidence in his abilities. His latest ego boost came from his incredible 25-yard pass to himself against West Ham last Monday.

The pressure is beginning to show on Pogba – from fans, pundits and probably himself. Paul Pogba is a great player, and if he is on form on Monday night, Chelsea will have problems.

However, this is a big game with huge stakes. If we know Jose Mourinho, he will no let his players forget it. The added pressure could work against Pogba, who has clearly needed time to transition into his new team and this league.

Next: Jose Mourinho returns looking to avenge October's humilation

Pogba has yet to showcase what he is truly capable of. N’Golo Kante showcases his worth in every game.