Veteran star should return to fitness in time for Sunday’s fixture in Malaysia.
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Chelsea head coach Jose Mourino has ordered key midfield player Frank Lampard to rest his Achilles over the new few days rather than risk aggravating the injury ahead of the new Premier League season, reports the Daily Mail.
The west London club are currently in Thailand on part of their pre-season tour of the Far East, and it was just prior to the Blues’ first friendly in Bangkok that the veteran star felt a twinge in his Achilles while warming up, with Mourinho then telling the 35-year-old not to take part in the fixture for fear of worsening the problem.
However, the Portuguese has since gone on to allay fans’ fears that Lampard’s injury may rule him out of the club’s opening Premier League fixture against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday Aug 18.
“It is a precaution,” confirmed Mourinho before the team flew to Kuala Lumpur, where they will take on a Malaysia XI on Sunday.
“I always say the players have to be intelligent in this period. No risks if they feel a little thing. In competition you have to risk something. In preseason, the worst thing that can happen is an injury while taking a risk.
“He was feeling discomfort on his achilles, so we decided he wouldn’t play. Ramires is a natural runner so it wasn’t a drama for him to play 90 minutes. Frank will rest and in two days’ time he’ll be back in training.”
Lampard is still, even at his advancing years, an absolutely vital member of the west London club’s midfield, having featured in a mammoth 608 matches overall for the Blues in all competitions since making his debut for Chelsea in August 2001, during which time the England international has scored a club-record 203 goals.