Lampard had already confirmed that Thiago Silva would not be part of the team to face Newcastle United today following his long trip to South America during the international break. Antonio Rudiger is the man selected to take his spot at centre-back alongside Kurt Zouma, the German playing his first league game this season following Champions League appearances against Krasnodar and Rennes.

Thiago Silva's absence, combined with Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho being named among the substitutes, as Reece James and Mateo Kovacic retain their places, means that N'Golo Kante will captain Chelsea at St James' Park.

Ben Chilwell has recovered from the knock he suffered with England to start at left-back and Kepa Arrizabalaga returns from his injury to take the substitute goalkeeper's berth.

Newcastle United are without top scorer Callum Wilson, who has scored six of their 10 Premier League goals so far this season.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Mendy; James, Rudiger, Zouma, Chilwell; Kovacic, Kante (c), Mount; Ziyech, Abraham, Werner

Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Emerson, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud

Newcastle United (5-4-1): Darlow; Manquillo, Clark, Lascelles (c), Fernandez, Lewis; Saint-Maximin, S Longstaff, Hayden, Murphy; Joelinton

Subs: Gillespie, Schar, Krafth, Hendrick, Shelvey, Almiron, Carroll

Stats recap

The Blues are the Premier League’s top scorers with 20 goals, closely followed by Tottenham 19 and Aston Villa, Leicester and Liverpool on 18.

Frank Lampard’s side are looking to extend our unbeaten run to nine games since we were eliminated on penalties to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Our only defeat in 90 minutes this season (13 games) was against Liverpool when we played the last 50 minutes with 10 men.

Since the Liverpool game we are unbeaten in six Premier League matches (three wins, three draws), with only Tottenham on a longer current run in the competition (seven). The Blues have netted at least three goals in five of those six games.

The Blues are hoping to keep three consecutive away clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September/October 2018.

Chelsea will be aiming to start a Premier League season undefeated in our opening five away games for the first time since 2018/19 (also five).

Timo Werner has scored seven goals in his last six appearances (four Chelsea, two Germany). The last Chelsea player to score in five consecutive Chelsea appearances in all competitions was Didier Drogba in November 2009.

Newcastle United stats

The Magpies have won two and lost four of their past six home Premier League fixtures, conceding 15 goals in the process.

Their four games at St James’ Park this season have seen two wins against Burnley (3-1) and Everton (2-1) and two defeats to Brighton (0-3) and Man Utd (1-4).

Newcastle have conceded a goal in seven consecutive league games which is their longest run without a Premier League clean sheet since December 2017 (11).

No side has had fewer shots in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (64).

Eight of Newcastle’s 10 league goals have been scored in the second half.

Following their 2-1 victory against Everton, Newcastle will be aiming to win consecutive league games at St James’ Park for the first time since December 2019.

The Magpies have kept two clean sheets in their last 16 Premier League games.