Olivier Giroud has been given assurances from Chelsea boss Frank Lampard that he will get more time on the pitch after the two-week international break. The 33-year-old France international has been the victim of Tammy Abraham’s emergence this season, with just 100 minutes of Premier League football under his belt to date.
Giroud, who joined the Blues from London rivals Arsenal in January 2018, has also been restricted to just one substitute appearance in the Champions League. His national team coach called him up for Les Bleus’ Euro 2020 qualification games against Iceland and Turkey during this fortnight, but expressed some concern at his lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge.
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But reports in France claim Giroud has been told by Lampard to expect more action following the break because Chelsea have a hectic schedule. The west Londoners host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, October 19 before travelling to face Ajax in the Champions League the following Wednesday.
A trip to Burnley follows in the league and a midweek Carabao Cup home clash against Manchester United completes the action this month. And while Abraham is set to remain Lampard’s first-choice forward, it is certain Giroud will play a lead role in more than one of those games.
In the meantime, speculation continues to suggest the former Montpellier man could be on his way out of Chelsea in the January transfer window.
Giroud was linked with a move away ahead of this season, but the club triggered a 12-month extension clause in his contract to keep him on board until June 2020.
However, it is possible he could push for a move if he remains dissatisfied at the amount of playing time he has managed to pick up when the window opens for business.
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