Frank Lampard will refresh his Chelsea line-up with returning players but Christian Pulisic looks set to remain for the visit of Leicester City on Sunday. Lampard made a number of changes in midweek for the Uefa Super Cup clash with Liverpool, bringing Pulisic in and dropping Mason Mount for the match in Istanbul as the Blues ended up losing on penalties following a 2-2 draw between the two teams after extra-time.
He could be tempted to recall Mount rhis weekend, though, and was quick to jump to the youngster’s defence in the wake of Sunday’s 4-0 Old Trafford defeat and the subsequent criticism from TV pundit Jose Mourinho that followed.
But Pulisic’s performance against Liverpool was so good that Lampard might find him hard to leave out at Stamford Bridge.
The US international created so many problems for Jurgen Klopp’s side in 74 minutes that there is already a clamour among Chelsea fans for him to start against Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes.
Tammy Abraham was also dropped to the bench for Olivier Giroud and Lampard now has a dilemma over which striker to start after the Frenchman scored on Wednesday.
Abraham also missed the decisive spot-kick in the shoot-out, but that could actually give Lampard more reasons to pick him as a show of faith. With Lampard unable to add to his striker options over the summer due to the transfer window ban, the new Blues boss has to make use of the players he inherited.
Michy Batshuayi is the third striker option available with Lampard confirming the Belgian is “very much in our plans and competing with Tammy and Oli for that space.”
Lampard on Batshuayi: “With Michy it’s important that he trains at a top, top level every day, gets himself absolutely fit to play the way I want my strikers to play, which will be constant movement – on and off the ball – and obviously to try and score goals.” #CFC
— Bridge News (@cfc_wale) August 16, 2019
Elsewhere, Lampard revealed that Antonio Rudiger is back in training, but that Willian is “probably closer” to getting a game and that Callum Hudson-Odoi is scheduled to return next month following the international break as he continues to recover well from his Achilles injury.
Rodgers, meanwhile, has the luxury of a fully-fit squad to select from as Leicester head to west London looking to build on the point they picked up for the goalless draw in their opening game against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.
Croatian defender Filip Benkovic seems to have shaken off an ankle issue, with only match fitness now stopping him from challenging for a first-team shirt.
Deadline-day signing Dennis Praet was an unused substitute in the opening game against Wolves, and the midfielder could make his Leicester debut against Chelsea on Sunday. class=”teads-inread sm-screen”>
