Lampard answered the media’s questions at Cobham before he and the squad travel south to Bournemouth ahead of our South Coast meeting tomorrow.

He had nothing to add on the injury front, so Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly remain out, along with longer-term absentees Mason Mount and Reece James.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea Badiashile update

One player who has been fit recently but hasn’t featured much is Benoit Badiashile. He has only played once since the draw with Everton in March, and Lampard was asked if he could return to the starting XI at the Vitality.

‘He’s very close,’ said Lampard.

‘He couldn’t play in the Champions League for me. He played against Brighton which was a difficult match for everybody. He’s in competition with Thiago, with Wesley, Trevoh. He’s very close, he’s training well.

‘There are a lot of young players who have come from a different league. It’s understandable to have moments of game time and moments when you’re not. You’re finding your feet in this league.

‘In a normal case, these players come in at a club like Chelsea at a moment of big stability. At this moment, it’s not the case. Credit to those players, it’s not easy to take that responsibility on their shoulders. They’re all trying to work and keep going and we’re here as staff to support that.’

'The fans will stick with the team'

Lampard reiterated words he had said in the wake of the Arsenal defeat that the players care but many are struggling for confidence or form for a variety of reasons, and his and his staff’s job was to try and help recover it in the coming weeks.

He was also asked by one journalist if he had a message to the Chelsea fans ahead of our final five fixtures of 2022/23, with the Blues in the extremely rare situation of not challenging for anything substantial.

‘The fans will stick with the team,’ stressed Lampard.

‘I don’t have to tell them much more than that. You could see that with the Chelsea fans at the end of the Arsenal game. From when I first joined, the club has gone from a really big football club to a monster of a football club worldwide, so the fanbase goes much wider than that.

‘Everyone on the outside wants to say there’s not much on it, but myself and the players have to show an immense amount of pride in what we do in these games. It’s the first step into the future.

‘Will we need a reboot of some sense in the summer? Sure, that’s clear, but at the moment we have to do what is in front of us, and the fans can be sure from my point of view I am pushing for that, and I hope they can see the rewards of that wherever they are.’

Bournemouth vs Chelsea injury list

Reece James has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring issue, while Mason Mount is still missing after undergoing surgery on a pelvic injury. Armando Broja remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation from cruciate ligament damage.

Bournemouth are expected to be without Ryan Fredericks, Junior Stanislas and Marcus Tavernier. Kieffer Moore went off with concussion during the Cherries' win over Leeds last weekend, a game Chris Mepham missed because of a thigh injury. Hamed Traore is a doubt.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea suspension

There are no suspensions for either side in this match.

As Chelsea have now surpassed 32 games in the Premier League this season, it is no longer possible for players to be suspended due to the number of accumulated yellow cards in 2022/23. However, bans will still be issued for players who are sent off in the competition.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea referee and VAR

Referee: John Brooks
VAR: David Coote

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