Frank Lampard has been hit with another injury in the midfield with Billy Gilmour set to miss the remainder of the season.
The youngster started in the 3-2 away win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night but had to come off with 10 minutes remaining until the end of the game.
Chelsea will have to do without the 19-year-old alongside N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic when they take on Sheffield United in the league over the weekend. Kante and Kovacic are likely to miss out through minor hamstring and Achilles problems respectively, while Gilmour’s due to a knee injury.
The manager revealed he told the Scot to be pleased for his impact in his first season with the senior team at Stamford Bridge.
“Billy Gilmour has had an operation on his knee this morning, so he will be out we estimate somewhere between three and four months unfortunately,” said Lampard. “I’m obviously very disappointed as we all are here and of course Billy himself.
“I spoke with him yesterday at length, and giving him support. He’s a tough boy, it hit him hard especially as a young boy who has just made a breakthrough. But I told him he should be very pleased with what he’s done and the impact he’s had this season anyway. His attitude will get him back as quickly as he can.
“His character for me is fantastic, particularly with his age, to get himself around the first-team squad and push himself into the team.
“I’m sure he’ll do everything right, put in the work and the rehab, and he has a very close-knit family around him who will help. But we’re his family too, so we’ll be there for him. Hopefully it will cover a period of the close season and into pre-season, so hopefully he’s not missing as many games as he might have done.”
With Mateo Kovacic also out injured, Jorginho could be welcomed back into the starting XI for the first time since the league restarted. And should start against Sheffield United over the weekend at the Bramall Lane.
The Italian has found himself down the pecking order recently, and is understood to be wanting a move back to Italy with Juventus interested in signing him this summer. However, Lampard said the midfielder has nothing to prove to anyone at the club.
“I don’t think there’s a point to prove, there is no point to prove,” said Lampard. “He proves it in training and when he plays for me. I hope there isn’t a point to prove as such, I just want to see the usual Jorginho.”
The English manager was also questioned on Jorginho’s future with Chelsea next season, he added: “I keep getting asked about next season, but it’s irrelevant to me; these final few games will define how we sit and look at this season and look forward to next.”
Despite the injuries, the manager still has a lot of options for the midfield when they travel to the Bramall Lane on Saturday, with Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount all available for the trip.
Chelsea still have loads of games to play after the game against Sheffield, with three more leagues to be played, as well as their FA Cup semi-final tie with Manchester United at Wembley.
The Blues also have the return league of the Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena still to come, with Lampard hopeful Gilmour could be ready for the Champions league next month.
Lampard could also think about the idea of drafting Reece James into the middle of the park should he be short of options, having watched him play a similar role while at Wigan Athletic last season.
Lewis Bate is also another option to be called all from the youth side, with the 17-year-old training with Lampard’s side since football was given the green-light to restart.
