Chelsea team news update: Lampard confirms quadruple boost ahead of Brighton clash

Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update including the latest on a number of his first team squad.

The Blues boss confirmed a big boost with the news that Andreas Christensen is back in contention after recovering from a minor knee injury that he picked up during the defeat to Liverpool last weekend.

French striker Olivier Giroud is also set to return to the Chelsea squad after overcoming illness which kept him out of the impressive 7-1 Carabao Cup victory over Grimsby in midweek.

Lampard has also confirmed that youngsters Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi will be in the squad against Brighton this weekend after making their injury comebacks during the League Cup win on Wednesday night.

However, it wasn’t all positive news as Chelsea will continue to be without Antonio Rudiger as the centre-back is still recovering from a groin injury that he aggravated earlier this month while Emerson is also still out with a hamstring problem.

Lampard also provided an update on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and revealed that the talented midfielder has begun jogging outside as he steps-up his rehabilitation from a serious Achilles injury that he sustained in pre-season.

The Blues boss is quoted as saying by Football London:

Rudiger, out. Toni has got a recurring injury in the groin, he still has some pain. Andreas, should be okay. A bit of pain but not a risk.

Olivier, yes he is over his illness. It left him pretty weak and he has got some strength. Emerson, other side of international break with hamstring.

Ruben, no date but he is jogging outside. They [James and Hudson-Odoi] are in the squad. They performed well the other day, delighted for them to score. It was good for the home fans to see Reece, great to see Callum back.

Chelsea head into the weekend action sitting 11th in the Premier League following their defeat to Liverpool last Sunday so Lampard will be desperate to get back on track with victory over Brighton.