The boss was speaking at Cobham on the eve of the new campaign, with his first task telling the media watching virtually which players he would not be able to call upon at the Amex. Added to this list is Mateo Kovacic, who is suspended following his red card in the FA Cup final.

‘Hakim Ziyech took an injury to his knee against Brighton in the friendly game so he won’t be fit,’ began Lampard.

‘We hope it’s a matter of weeks, hopefully a couple of weeks, but we will have to see on that one.

‘Ben Chilwell is working towards fitness. He won’t be fit for Brighton. He has developed and improved this week and going in the right direction, which is good news for us.

'Thiago Silva is now in London but not training with us until the weekend, so I doubt very much he will be in contention for the Brighton game.

‘Other than that, Billy Gilmour is a longer-term injury, he will be out for a couple of months more, but other than that we are in decent shape.’

Having picked up injuries in the FA Cup final, Lampard is pleased to have Christian Pulisic and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta available to him, perhaps sooner than he expected.

‘I am very happy to welcome them both back. Yesterday was their first day fully training with the team, so they’re in contention for Monday.

‘I have to be careful and I have a squad to pick from, but the way they’re training and their attitude to come back, it looks like they’re over those injuries. I just have to make sure I manage them both back in in their own ways.’