The World Cup-winning Frenchman was thought to have been in with a chance of facing Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League but ultimately did not make the cut due to his troublesome ankle issue.
There is hope that Kante will be fit enough to make the squad this time around, but Mateo Kovacic will not want to relinquish his place in midfield after finding the back of the net against Aston Villa last weekend.
Tuchel could elect to keep faith in the same backline that kept a clean sheet on Tuesday night, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger shielding Edouard Mendy in between the sticks.
Reece James - whose home was broken into while he was playing against Zenit - returns from a domestic ban to take his rightful spot out wide, but his compatriot Ben Chilwell is struggling to displace a rejuvenated Marcos Alonso.
Hakim Ziyech earned a start in midweek but only lasted 63 minutes before being hooked for Kai Havertz, and the German could be reintroduced to the first XI here alongside Mason Mount.
Romelu Lukaku's header against Zenit represented his fourth goal from as many matches this season, but he has only managed one goal in 13 previous appearances against Tottenham.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Havertz; Lukaku
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