Chelsea FC’s Frank Lampard fit to return
Frank Lampard has recovered to full fitness and is ready to make a return to the 1st team. The Chelsea vice-captain has been out of action since September when he last featured for the Blues 2-0 victory against Stoke
City in the English Premier League.
However, after convalescing from a hernia operation, that had kept him on the side-lines for over 2 months, Frank will be available for the West Londoners Sunday visit to Anfield in the English Premier League.
Chelsea were without their talisman when they beat Spartak Moscow 4-1, in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. Rumours about Frank’s return in midweek had surfaced even before the match, but manager
Carlo Ancelotti denied such reports and did not even include him on the team sheet.
Carlo said, "Lampard started training with the team this week, I don't think he will be ready for Wednesday but for the next game in the Premier League, against Liverpool."
Lampard holds the record for most consecutive appearances, starting in 164 Premier League matches consecutively, between October 2001 and December 2005. The mercurial midfielder has built a reputation for
resistance to injuries and the recent absence from the game is the longest of his entire career.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Lamps has been the heart and soul of The Blues. In addition to scoring goals freely from the centre of the park, Chelsea’s no.8 also sets up scoring opportunities for his
strikers. Lampard is currently 3rd on the Blues’ all time scoring charts, with 158 goals in all competitions.
However, due to the depth in Ancelotti’s squad and the return to form of some of his players such as Florent Malouda and Yuri Zhirkov, Frank’s absence has not been sorely missed. Emergence of young players
like the 17 year old Joshua McEachran, has demonstrated the possibilities of a post-Lampard future.
In the midfielder’s absence Chelsea have managed to score 16 points from 7 Premier League ties and have won all 4 of their European outings.
However, Ancelotti is still keen for his ever-dependable midfielder to mark his return soon.
Carlo said, “"I hope he will come back quickly because we need to have this kind of player," Ancelotti said. "Now the team without Lampard is doing very well. But when he comes back I think we have a stronger
team. We have a lot of games, we have a game every three days and all the players will be involved."
With the fixtures coming thick and fast, Lampard has made a timely return to help his side defend their domestic crown. Chelsea will be engaged in 7 games this November before an even congested December.
During this period they will face title deciding battles with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal FC.
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