http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/20/chelsea-frank-lampard-injury?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+theguardian/football/rss+(Football)

Chelsea face the prospect of further disruption to their season after it emerged that Frank Lampard limped out of training yesterday with a calf injury.

The midfielder was reportedly sent for a scan and the extent of the problem should become apparent today. Lampard returned only last month from injury problems that had sidelined him since the end of August.

His presence was missed by Chelsea as they slipped off the pace in the Premier League and another layoff for the 32-year-old would be a considerable blow to Carlo Ancelotti after recent signs that the club's season might be back on track.

Oh dear, very bad news.

I guess it might mean McEachran gets a few games?

It has to. Its his calling.

Or maybe we'll step up pursuit for another player.

That Pienaar 'snub' could look bad now if we don't go out and buy someone.

Hopefully its nothing serious, and he's out for a week at most.

Edited January 20, 201115 yr by footballoholic

Not good. We need others to step up. I don't see us going after a midfielder, especially because Malouda can move back, Josh will be there, and Kakuta can play there. Also, Mikel will be back so he can take his spot back with Josh, Essien, Ramires, Malouda, and Kakuta as possibilities to play farther forward.

Lets hope it is nothing serious. We really need Frank for the home stretch of the season. If he is out I really hope Carlo doesn't go with Essien/Ramires/Mikel as that combination is way too predictable. This must be Josh's big chance.

Worst possible news if it's true, but I wouldn't be giving up hope just yet.

The Guardian is also running with the story although the extent of the injury is unknown at this point.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/20/chelsea-frank-lampard-injury

Josh is scheduled to play for the youth team in the FA Youth Cup tomorrow night against Arsenal. However there is some talk on the Chelsea chat site that he may be pulled out of the team if the injury to Frank is more serious. So that might be an early indicator.

This stretch of bad luck with injuries is really getting annoying. This summer, I believe we need to start searching for replacements in some of the positions, and we need to find someone that will give us that spark. It's good playing youth, and it's good to see development but we need some experienced players as well.

From Mail

If Ancelotti's worst fears are confirmed and Lampard is indeed set for another spell on the sidelines then the Italian may decide to pull Josh McEachran out of tonight's FA Youth Cup clash against Arsenal.

McEachran was due to play in front of a sell-out crowd at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea youngsters continue the defence of the trophy they won last season against Arsenal.

Bu the highly rated 17-year-old, who has made 13 senior appearances this season, may find next week's trip to the Reebok is now a more pressing engagement.

Sounds like all those games he's played are finally catching up with him.

FFS, not again. The club must see by now, plain as day, that our "old guard" are going to be on the shelf a lot more in the coming seasons.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Worst possible news to wake up to, it makes sense now just to manage him carefully & get him ready for the champions League final stages. Getting a heir for him in the summer is now a priority.

I pray Carlo doesn't revert to the Ramires, Mikel, Essien triumvirate.

Hopefully he doesn't take as long as Yuri has to recover.

Look foward to seeing Josh more though.

It was pretty much inevitable this would happen. When you come back after a long lay off it is really easy to tweak something. Hopefully it won't be anything too major. Bad news for us and for Frank who was finding his feet again. Now has to be the time for Josh.

nothing confirmed by the club yet...let's wait and see what they say before topping ourselves

Agreed Brit, but I do have my tablets at the ready.......

Young Josh in an ATTACKING role please, wasted at DM.

At first im tempted to go for the bad luck card, but the cynical side of me suggests that when you have a squad that relies so obviously on a core group of players , most of which are 30+ then you are asking for trouble and that this is inevitable.

No point in making too much of it untill we get confirmation of how bad it actually is , but id like to echo the statement above about the Essien/Mikel/Ramiries trio that simply does not work and should not be a consideration.

Edited January 20, 201115 yr by bjd

AND RELAX...chelsea expect him to be fit on monday night:

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2271457,00.html

Sounds like just a tweak... That's good news.

More over stating of facts by the media, the majority of players seem to pick up tweaks an pulls after being out for several months out. hopefully its just one of those tweaks.

Yep, doesn't sound too bad. Fingers crossed.

I guess it might mean McEachran gets a few games?

No it doesn't since Carlo doesn't throw a youngster in a big game. He'll play Malouda in the midfield (left) and play Kalou in the front three.

Maybe time to put young Frankie out to stud

Maybe time to put young Frankie out to stud

I would volunteer, but I think Gem should have first right of refusal (as if!)