Frank Lampard to miss Chelsea and England fixtures
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is set to remain on the sidelines for at least another two weeks, having failed to recover from the hernia surgery he underwent last month.
Lampard made his last appearance for the club against Stoke on August 28 and had surgery three days later. His recovery has been hampered by pain felt around the scar tissue.
The 32-year-old will miss Chelsea's Champions League fixture against Olympique Marseille on Tuesday, as well as Sunday's crucial league encounter with Arsenal.
"He can't play on Tuesday. We need to have more time than we expected for his rest."
Lampard reached his highest ever goal tally for the club last season, scoring 22 goals in 36 league appearances.
Ancelotti said that the upcoming international break should allow Lampard to return for Chelsea's league fixture against Aston Villa on October 16.
"In a few days there will be an international break and he will be ready for the first game after the break. He didn't play with us, so I don't think he is able to play for the national team."
Capello without Lampard against Montenegro
The news will be disconcerting for England manager Fabio Capello, who will likely be without Lampard for his team's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on October 12.
The midfielder already missed England's first two qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland earlier this month.
Despite Saturday's defeat to City, Chelsea has won two out of three league games in Lampard's absence, and fellow midfielder John Obi Mikel said that the club's squad contains enough talent to fill in for Lampard while he's out.
"There are other players who can do a similar job to Frank, but it is a massive loss to the team," Mikel said. "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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