Chelsea and manager Frank Lampard finally had a full squad to call upon for the first time this season when the Blues came up against Leeds United with no fresh injuries in his team. However, that lasted just 27 minutes.
Hakim Ziyech picked up a hamstring injury in that match and had to be substituted, and then Callum Hudson-Odoi also suffered a hamstring injury in training. Now, Lampard has confirmed that both are set to miss at least two weeks.
Lampard Confirms Injuries to Key Chelsea Duo
Bad News Entering Very Busy December
With the sheer number of games that will be played in December, having two key wingers out injured is less than ideal. Lampard hopes that they will be back in time to face Arsenal on Boxing Day, which would mean they miss five matches in just two weeks.
It could easily be more, though, as hamstring injuries are very tricky, and with Ziyech particularly beginning to establish himself as a star in the Premier League, this will come as very bad news for Chelsea.
Hudson-Odoi was also picking up his form going into the new year, and Lampard has reaffirmed his stance that the 20-year-old is going nowhere. Hopefully, these slight knocks prove to be exactly that, and they can both recover quickly, in time to have a significant impact against their London rivals.
Injuries Provide Opportunity for Others to Step up
With this double injury blow, it suddenly leaves Chelsea very weak in the wing position. The Blues only have one fit out-and-out winger in the squad at the moment in Christian Pulisic. He has been injury-prone himself, so keeping him fit and managing his minutes is vital at this time.
Of course, Timo Werner will be the other starting winger, but he’s a natural striker, and as soon as Pulisic, Ziyech and Werner are all fit at the same time, Lampard would very likely opt to push the German into the middle again.
For now, though, he needs to cover the wing, which he’s more than happy to do. Mason Mount and Kai Havertz are also options to play out wide, although they are both much better as attacking number eights, where they have been excelling recently.
That leaves the very interesting case of Tino Anjorin, who just made his first Chelsea start against Krasnodar on Tuesday. He, along with fellow youngster Billy Gilmour, massively impressed, and he could be set for a run in the senior team with these injuries.
He may get his chance in the league, but he will need to be ready to step up and take it. If he can replicate his form against Krasnodar, he’ll surely continue to impress.
For now, though, Lampard will be hoping that his two key wingers can recover smoothly, as he will need them back as quickly as possible.
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