Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted that Tammy Abraham is touch and go ahead of tonight’s game against Aston Villa. The 22-year-old is suffering with a hip injury which the Blues boss says is still causing problems:
“We are giving Abraham every opportunity to play tomorrow. We will make the call tomorrow, he has a little bit of pain. He was in good form, he is always keen, he is trying his best.”
Antonio Rudiger is close to returning from a groin injury. The German international is back in training with Lampard hopeful that the defender will be back in first-team action in the next ten days.
Ross Barkley has recovered from an ankle problem but has now been struck down will illness so won’t be in the squad for tonight’s game.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is continuing to build up his fitness as he looks to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Marco van Ginkel is back on the training pitch following a lengthy spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. However, neither player is said to be close to making a first-team comeback.