MX23RW : Sunday, January 19 15:09:32| >> :120:5992:5992:
[monks data]
Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
Jul 7, 2020 at 6pm UK
Selhurst Park
Chelsea logo

Crystal Palace
2 - 3
Chelsea

Zaha (34'), Benteke (72')
Milivojevic (35')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Giroud (6'), Pulisic (27'), Abraham (71')

Frank Lampard praises Jorginho's professionalism and hints at recall

Frank Lampard praises Jorginho's professionalism and hints at recall
© Reuters
The Italian had fallen out of favour.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has praised the professionalism of Jorginho as he looks set to recall the midfielder in place of the injured N'Golo Kante.

Kante suffered a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League win over Watford and, while Lampard revealed it is only a "low-level" issue, he is expected to miss the next two games.

The Blues face Crystal Palace on Tuesday night and Sheffield United on Saturday, with Kante likely to be absent for both.

"Kante won't be in the squad," Lampard said ahead of Tuesday's London derby at Palace.

"It is a low-level hamstring injury. We are hoping it will be a week or so.

"We will see how it goes but I would expect we would be very lucky to have him for Sheffield United."

With Kante sidelined, it is expected that Italy international Jorginho will replace him in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

The 28-year-old was a regular in Lampard's side ahead of lockdown but has yet to play a single minute since the season resumed.

Lampard would not be drawn on why the former Napoli player has seemingly fallen out of favour but has been pleased with Jorginho's reaction.

"I don't want to go into personal details of positional and tactical reasons why I pick a team, I just pick a team how I see best and they are my choices," he said.

"He (Jorginho) has been very professional about it, he wants to play as every player does.

"It is one of the hardest parts of the job – telling a player they are not playing, particularly when they train well.

"Jorginho always trains well but he has handled it professionally and that is what I would expect.

"It is important that players, over the course of a season, in a competitive squad like we have are there to support players when they are out – and he has done that, to be fair."

If they can win at Selhurst Park, Chelsea will move ahead of Leicester into third place – with the Foxes playing later in the evening away at Arsenal.

Three wins from four since the restart have seen Chelsea close the gap, while Manchester United have also kicked on.

Lampard conceded United's form means they are the main threat from the chasing pack to Chelsea's top-four ambitions.

"They are a very strong team and have been in great form for a very long period of time," he said of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side – who sit two points adrift of Chelsea and will face the Blues in an FA Cup semi-final later in the month.

"They've got really good individual players and you have seen the momentum they have gained at this part of the season, their front three are all scoring lots of goals.

"They are the biggest threat from behind but this is the Premier League, it looks like that today but it is how the teams now finish the season, going game by game."

ID:405382: cacheID:405382:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4416:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Divock Origi celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Everton in the Premier League on December 4, 2019.
Read Next:
Owen claims Liverpool decided against Werner due to Origi
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Washington
45-31
Lions
8pm
Rams
@
Eagles
11.30pm
Ravens
@
Bills
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal22128243212244
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Bournemouth22107536261037
7Aston Villa2210663334-136
8Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
9Fulham228953430433
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2171043229331
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd217592629-326
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
16Everton203891526-1117
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
18Ipswich TownIpswich2137112037-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2113171347-346


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!