CHELSEA will be without top scorer Tammy Abraham when they take on West Ham this weekend.
The striker, 22, was reduced to tears as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher during the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Wednesday.
Olivier Giroud could lead the line for Chelsea against West Ham
Lampard has confirmed the England international will sit out of Saturday’s clash against the Hammers at Stamford Bridge.
When asked to give up an update on Abraham, the boss said: “We will know by the end of the weekend.
“He won’t be available for tomorrow.
“It is a squad game, the lads have been training well and when opportunities come they are ready.”
Olivier Giroud, 33, has only made four appearances in the Premier League this season after falling down the pecking order.
But Lampard could be forced to recall the Crystal Palace target to his starting XI.
Alternatively, Chelsea could pick Michy Batshuayi, 26, to lead the line after he came off the bench to replace Abraham in the week.
The manager refused to reveal which striker he wants to start against West Ham, but hinted it could be Batshuayi.
He said: “Michy has shown work ethic and quality, which I knew anyway.
“It’s not easy when you’re not playing as many minutes as you’d want.
“All my players want to play every minute of every game. With Tammy’s form that’s meant he’s played a lot of minutes, but that can obviously change now Tammy has his injury.
“I’ve seen a great work ethic and a persistence in how he works, and a consistency in his quality.
“We’ve seen when he has come off the bench at times as well. That has been great to see because we need competition in those places.”
In defence, Lampard looks likely to start Emerson Palmieri, Fikayo Tomori, Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta.
N’Golo Kante could start in the heart of midfield alongside Jorginho and Matteo Kovacic, with Christian Pulisic and Willian ahead of them.
Frank Lampard hinted Michy Batshuayi could replace Tammy Abraham
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham in tears after nasty injury in Champions League against Valencia
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
