Chelsea News: Frank Lampard out for two more weeks
English Premier League champions Chelsea have been by far the most in form team in England this season. The Blues started the season with a bang and smashed in 24 goals in their first 5 games maintaining a 100 % record. But the
last 2 games have seen a minor slump in the fortunes of the blue brigade.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men could not get past Newcastle in the Carling Cup midweek which effectively meant that they can no longer dream of an unprecedented quadruple. The bad luck followed them to the Premier League and at the city
of Manchester Stadium the champions were beaten one nil by Manchester City. Chelsea however remain at the top of the table, but will have to regroup ahead of their midweek Champions League tie.
A big blow for Ancelotti’s team will be the absence of their talismanic midfielder Frank Lampard. The England international has been out of action for 2 weeks following a hernia surgery.
The 32 year old has not played for the Blues in almost a month and the manager said that it may be two more weeks before he can be back to full fitness. Ancelotti said that he would not want to risk one of his most important players
and would like to keep him wrapped in velvet till he gets back to 100%.
Lampard will miss some key encounters for Chelsea in this lay-off period. The midweek Champions’ League tie against Marseille is the club’s next match. After that, it is the all important London Derby against Arsenal which may
go a long way towards deciding the fate of the Premier League trophy come the end of the season. Lampard will also miss out on an international match for England; the third
Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.
"He can't play on Tuesday. We need to have more time than we expected for his rest," said Ancelotti.
"In a few days there will be an international break and he will be ready for the first game after the break.
Ancelotti added, "He didn't play with us so I don't think he is able to play for the national team."
The England midfielder went under the knife on the 31st of august and has made his way back to the training ground. However, he has not been able to do the drills easily and has been complaining of pain around the scar
tissue.
Lampard was also not part of the England team that played in the first two Euro 2012 qualifiers. England won both games against Bulgaria and Switzerland earlier this month. The 3rd qualifier will be played at Wembley
on the 12th of October.
The last game Frank played for Chelsea was a 2-0 win against Stoke City on the 28th of August.
A player like Lampard will be a huge miss for any team, but when one looks at the talent on Ancelotti’s disposal, it should not be a big problem for the Blues. John Obi Mikel has been filling in for Lampard in midfield and Ancelotti
said that if he had Ballack it would have been ideal but that still he has enough in the squad to make it work. Mikel was signed by Chelsea when he was only 18 years old, and he did not get much game time in his first two seasons, but in the last season or
so he has come of age and is relishing his chance to prove his worth in absence of his idol. The Nigerian international said that losing Frank is a big loss but he will make sure that he makes sure that his absence is not felt in the team.
"There are other players who can do a similar job to Frank but it is a massive loss to the team," said Mikel.
"I think we are coping well without him, but he is a fantastic player and we can't wait to have him back."
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