Chelsea’s three England internationals who have missed recent games due to injury will not return in time for Thursday night’s match at Old Trafford.
None of Chelsea’s three England internationals who missed recent games due to injury return in time for Thursday night’s match at Old Trafford.
As he prepares the squad for the final away game of the season and the penultimate match overall, Lampard gave the injury update at the media conference held at Cobham on Wednesday afternoon.
‘Mason, Reece and Chilly won’t make the game, Benoit Badiashile we know is out,’ said Lampard.
‘Joao [Felix] had a small injury at the weekend and he is back involved.’
Man Utd vs Chelsea Badiashile injury update
It was announced early in the week that Benoit Badiashile is out for a period of time due to a hamstring injury.
‘It’s a big blow for him and I am disappointed for him,' lamented Lampard.
'He has come here and impressed and the games just before he got injured I was very happy with him. He is going to be a good player for this club. It is an unfortunate, complicated injury. It is months rather than weeks. I hope for him that the timing of it over the summer, means that he won’t miss games and he will come back stronger.’
Sterling and England
While Lampard was speaking, the England international squad for two Euro 2024 qualifiers next month was named. Conor Gallagher is in it but as well as the injured Mount, James and Chilwell, Raheem Sterling is not included.
'I don’t know the exact details of the conversations between Raheem and Gareth [Southgate],' Lampard said.
'All I do know is that Raheem is a top-level player who has played for England for a lot of time. From my personal memories of playing for England for years, I know that sometimes these games at the end of the season are different challenges for individuals who have played a lot of games and a lot of minutes, so if there is a mutual conversation between the two of them then I am sure they will find the right outcome - the best for England and the best for Raheem.’
Good mentality needed versus Man United
‘It is a similar situation to approaching playing Manchester City, albeit they had won the league the night before,’ explained the caretaker manager.
‘They [Man United] are a high-level team so it is the same point from where I approached going into the City game, and how the players approach it more importantly.
‘People think we have not got much on the game and the players have to show them there is, in terms of their personal and collective approach to it. We will have to go there with a good mentality as they are fighting for something we have fought for for many years, and now we are not in that position, so players need to show.’
Man Utd vs Chelsea injury list
Marc Cucurella, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante have all been missing in recent weeks. Armando Broja remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation from cruciate ligament damage.
Manchester United will be without Phil Jones, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek, all due to knee injuries, while Lisandro Martinez is also expected to be sit out with an ankle problem. Marcus Rashford could return after missing their last match through illness.
Man Utd 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.
Man United vs Chelsea referee and VAR
Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Michael Salisbury