Chelsea team news update: Lampard confirms triple boost ahead of Leicester clash

Chelsea will be desperate to bounce back from their defeat to Man Utd when they take on Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Frank Lampard spoke to the media his pre-match press conference today and he’s provided a full team news and injury update including the latest on three of his players.

The Blues boss offered a positive update on the fitness of Callum Hudson-Odoi as the winger is now back in training with the Under-23s and Lampard says the youngster is ‘looking good’.

Hudson-Odoi suffered a serious Achilles injury back in April and he was initially not expected back until later in the year but it sounds as though he’s ahead of schedule as Lampard says he could be back in contention after next month’s international break.

The Chelsea manager also gave an update on Antonio Rudiger and the centre-back is expected to be in contention to face Leicester after stepping-up his recovery from a knee injury that kept him out of the defeat to Man Utd.

Willian also didn’t feature during the 4-0 loss at Old Trafford due to a knee problem but he was an unused substitute during the Super Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night and Lampard has suggested the Brazilian attacker is now available for selection this weekend.

Lampard told Chelseafc.com:

‘He’s getting closer. Hare’s trained the last week or two with the Under-23s and is looking good. There is going to be a period of conditioning work for him. The injury looks good which is the great news. Then he’s going to have to be fitter than he’s ever been because I’m going to want him to run!’

‘[He’ll be back] Probably next month considering the international break maybe falling at a good time for us. It gives us a couple of weeks to really see how he’s getting on with the conditioning training.

‘It’s good news for us. It’s slightly gone amiss with the transfer ban and the obsession with young players, but we are missing six players from the squad, including Reece James, big players. As they are coming back it’s going to make us stronger.’

‘Rudiger is training. Whether he’s completely match fit is a different thing, for the same reasons as Callum, a bit of conditioning [needed]. Willian is probably closer. They are both in contention for the weekend.’

Lampard is likely to freshen things up following a gruelling 120 minutes against Liverpool in the Super Cup in midweek so we could see the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Marcos Alonso and Ross Barkley recalled on Sunday after being named on the bench last time out.

The results may not have gone Chelsea’s way during their first two competitive matches this season but there have been plenty of positives for Lampard to take so he’ll be hoping to secure his first win as manager against Leicester this weekend.