It's been 1,169 days since Frank Lampard last took charge of a Chelsea game as head coach and he has been handed a second chance to guide the side once again. The club announced on Thursday the decision to appoint the former midfielder and manager as a caretaker for the rest of the season.
It comes after the dismissal of Graham Potter, with the hunt on for a new boss now firmly in the minds of those at the top of the hierarchy. Lampard's arrival has taken pressure off an immediate hiring, but there are still a handful of games to navigate for some results.
The first of which comes away at Wolves before a crucial clash against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. There's a few injury issues for the manager to contend with, so with that being said, football.london takes a look at the latest injury news for Lampard's first match back in charge of the Blues.
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Raheem Sterling
After scoring a crucial goal against Borussia Dortmund, Sterling has faced another brief spell out of the team with Potter confirming the winger had a fresh fitness concern. He was also left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad for the international break as a precaution.
His spell on the treatment table is behind him though after featuring off the bench against Liverpool.
What Bruno said: "All fit [aside from outside of Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva], just Bettinelli is doing some recovery but the rest are fit."
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: Returned
Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta sustained a concussion against Southampton following a collision with striker Sekou Mara. The defender left the pitch on a stretcher and was taken to hospital but he's on the mend now as he eyes a return in the coming weeks.
What Bruno said: "All fit [aside from Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva], just Bettinelli is doing some recovery but the rest are fit."
Injury: Concussion
Expected return date: Late March / April
Thiago Silva
Silva was forced off with a knee injury in the Blues' clash with Tottenham. The following Tuesday, Chelsea released a statement detailing his diagnosis. The time off has been detailed as roughly six weeks, meaning he should return to action in early April.
His wife has since posted a video of him getting treated at their home, writing on Instagram: "The needles are on top of the ligament, emitting shocks due to use, it hurts so much."
What Bruno said: "All fit [aside from outside of Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva], just Bettinelli is doing some recovery but the rest are fit."
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: April
Edouard Mendy
In January, Chelsea confirmed that Mendy underwent surgery on a fractured finger which he sustained during training. After an extended period of time on the sidelines, the Senegal international appears to be back in contention for selection.
What Bruno said: "All fit [aside from outside of Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva], just Bettinelli is doing some recovery but the rest are fit."
Injury: Finger
Expected return date: Returned
Wesley Fofana
Potter revealed Fofana had been taken off against Everton due to fatigue. The Chelsea boss claimed that the defender he was simply 'feeling his hamstring' despite many suspecting he had picked up another injury.
Fofana was later spotted in the dugout at Stamford Bridge with an ice pack on his right thigh, leaving some supporters to fear the worst. The Frenchman returned to the starting lineup to face Liverpool as normal, which comes as a much welcomed boost.
What Bruno said: "All fit [aside from outside of Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva], just Bettinelli is doing some recovery but the rest are fit."
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: Returned
Armando Broja
Chelsea have been without Broja for a while now after the striker suffered a knee injury in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa. The 20-year-old screamed in pain following a collision with Ezri Konsa and he was subsequently stretchered off the field of play.
He looked to be in considerable pain and was seen to be clutching his leg as he was tended to by medical staff. The Albania international had no history of knee injuries and his injury is a major blow.
Broja has been expected to be out for at least the remainder of the season after learning that he needed surgery to fix a ruptured cruciate ligament in his right knee, football.london reported at the time. However, he's recently been pictured back in individual training at Cobham, albeit mostly gym work.
What was said: ''It was just an unfortunate action. He got caught up with their player and the ground. It doesn’t look positive at the moment but it’s too early to say. Fingers crossed but it is an awkward one.''
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: Summer 2023
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