Chelsea reveal Lampard injury boost

Chelsea breathed a huge sigh of relief today as it was confirmed Frank Lampard's calf injury is not as serious as first feared.

Lampard, who has missed the majority of the season with a hernia and groin problem, pulled his calf in training yesterday and it had been feared that the 32-year-old could be out for two to three weeks.

But the club revealed in a statement this morning that scans had shown the injury to be only a minor problem and the midfielder will be in the squad for Monday's crucial match at Bolton.

The England midfielder has been a crucial part in Chelsea's slight upturn in form since his return last month and has played the Blues' last six games.

The former West Ham man spoke this morning of his delight at returning to action from his groin and hernia injury, which was initially only supposed to rule him out for a few weeks.

"I tried to keep fit during the injury by doing everything I could without harming it," Lampard told Chelsea's website.

"I did a lot of running and got myself as fit as I could for coming back and then I just had to try to adapt to games quickly which is the toughest bit, finding the sharpness which you can never reproduce the conditions for when you are out for a while.

"So I was pleased to get through the tight schedule of games and I felt pretty good in most of them, maybe not so much the Wolves match because my groin felt a bit funny, but other than that I felt quite good."

Chelsea were top of the Barclays Premier League when Lampard picked up the original injury in August but the team faltered in his absence, winning seven, losing five and drawing once without him in the side.

He has been impressive since his return, scoring twice in the recent 7-0 demolition of Ipswich in the FA Cup, and Chelsea now head to the Reebok Stadium looking to record their first successive league wins since October.

Carlo Ancelotti had hoped to have Steven Pienaar in his squad for Monday's game but the midfielder turned down a transfer to Stamford Bridge to move to local rivals Tottenham yesterday.

One person who benefited from Lampard's absence was 17-year-old academy product Josh McEachran.

The midfielder has been tipped for a bright future at the club and Lampard is keen to become a key figure in the teenager's development.

"You do have to take that responsibility on," Lampard said.

"Other clubs show great examples of that with players like Ryan Giggs helping people around them.

"Particularly with young Josh coming into midfield it is quite a nice responsibility. He is going to be a top player and it is enjoyable to try to help him.

"I enjoy playing with the young players because they bring a real freshness into the team and into training.

"Josh has outstanding ability so although I talk to him to try to help him, probably very soon he will be helping me."

Chelsea have been criticised for their limited activity in the transfer market after releasing the likes of Joe Cole, Deco, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti last summer.

But Lampard is convinced that the group of youngsters who are now challenging to take their places are determined to prove themselves.

Lampard added: "If there is a way you can tell the lads to work on their weaknesses I will because it needs to be done, but to be fair to the lads who are training with us now like Josh, Jeffrey Bruma, Pat van Aanholt, they want to work, they want to improve.

"The individual side of training certainly makes you a better player if you work hard on aspects of your game like that."