Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says he is hopeful that Hakim Ziyech will be available to face Manchester City this weekend.

The Moroccan international was only expected to be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury but he has not featured since pulling up in the early stages of the 3-1 win over Leeds at the start of the month. Lampard says the 27-year-old is now closing in on his comeback:

“There’s a possibility he could be fit for Manchester City if it goes ahead on Sunday. He’s certainly progressing to the point where he’s very close to fitness.”

Reece James was also a surprise omission from the starting line up for the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Monday but Lampard revealed that the right-back had suffered a “small” hamstring problem in the build-up to the match and was left out as a precaution.

James also has a knee issue that needs to be managed carefully so it is very much 50/50 as to whether he’ll be included in the eleven when the Blues host City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.