Chelsea trio due back early as England calls
Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole to return from USA early to feature against Republic of Ireland and Brazil
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Your support makes all the difference.Gary Cahill has confirmed that Chelsea’s England trio will leave their post-season tour of the United States after tomorrow’s friendly with Manchester City to join up with the National team.
Cahill, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole flew to St Louis with the rest of the Blues squad on Monday but will return to England after the first of two scheduled friendlies with the fellow Barclay’s Premier League outfit.
They will miss the second match with City, to be played in New York on Saturday, instead flying home to make themselves available for England’s friendly matches with the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.
Speaking to the club’s website, Cahill, who was absent from international duty in March with a knee injury, said: "We will train for the next couple of days and will be involved in the game on Thursday and then fly back on Friday.
"It's not stopped yet. I finish totally on June 3, I think. I'm looking forward to the internationals because I missed the last ones with injury, but then looking forward to a rest at the end of what's been a long season."
The United States trip comes at the end of Chelsea's 69-match season which saw them finish third in the Barclays Premier League and lift the Europa League trophy under the charge of interim boss Rafa Benitez.
"I think you have to say we finished strongly," Cahill added.
"We got the third position we were aiming for and achieved what we wanted there, and we finished with a trophy.
"We had ups and downs but like last year we finished well and we can be pleased.
"You've got to judge it by where you are in the league at certain stages.
"At three quarters of the way we were looking for third and we managed to achieve that.
"After we went out of the FA Cup we had one trophy left and it was important to pick up some silverware."
Benitez's final match in charge is the New York clash with City this weekend, after which Chelsea will look to appoint a new boss with departing Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho expected to return to Stamford Bridge.
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