Chelsea have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Frank Lampard’s side are currently 2-0 down in the quarter-final tie after the first leg in Spain and welcome the current holders to Stamford Bridge for the return leg on Tuesday.
Everything is against Chelsea heading into the Champions League encounter, with the Blues suffering three defeats from Lampard’s first three games in charge as caretaker manager.
Chelsea were well-beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in the Premier League despite the scoreline being 2-1, and Lampard freshened the side up with Real in mind after making six changes against the Seagulls.
Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante were two of those that were rested and are both expected to come back into the side, however two were enforced due to injury.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was ruled out because of a back problem, while a knee problem kept Kai Havertz sidelined.
Lampard confirmed Havertz’s injury was only minor and he expected him to be fit to face Real Madrid.
The 44-year-old said: “Kai has had a little issue with his knee, which he felt in Madrid on Wednesday night. He should be fine for Tuesday (against Real Madrid at home).”
But both Loftus-Cheek and Havertz trained at Cobham on Monday morning at their Cobham base, handing Lampard a selection boost as the Blues prepare for their biggest game of the season to date.
Silva, Kante and Joao Felix were all involved in training, while Ben Chilwell will miss the game through suspension after receiving a red card in the second half last week at the Bernabeu. Kalidou Koulibaly is also out due to a hamstring injury.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Cesar Azpilicueta and Denis Zakaria all trained on Monday, as did Mason Mount who continues to recover to full fitness.
Chelsea are huge underdogs and not expected to go through into the semi-finals but Lampard’s side will give everything they have to try to produce a shock in west London.
“We are now going to do everything we can to come through the game against Real Madrid and win this game,” said Zakaria. “We will give everything until the end.”
Source: absolutechelsea.com
