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Frank Lampard says Hakim Ziyech could return against Manchester City on January 3, if the game goes ahead.
City’s most recent Premier League match against Everton was postponed for health reasons after a series of positive Covid tests on the Blues team, and the match against Chelsea could be in doubt if more cases emerge.
However, no new positive tests were returned when the City team was tested on Wednesday and first team training resumed. Speaking after Chelsea’s recent draw with Aston Villa, Lampard insisted his team was eager to play City if it was safe to do so.
Assuming no more positive cases are found at City, the match is expected to go as planned, and Lampard has confirmed that Chelsea could have point man Ziyech back for the clash at Stamford Bridge.
Ziyech has been absent the last six games, while Chelsea have staggered with just one win in that time, and Lampard said the Moroccan is close to reaching top form after missing both of his Christmas week matches.
Lampard said: “There is a possibility that he will be in shape for Manchester City if he goes ahead on Sunday. He is certainly progressing to the point where he is very close to being in shape.”
Timo Werner is another player who will be available after fears that the German striker suffered an injury faded when he came off the bench against Aston Villa.
However, right-back Reece James suffered from a hamstring problem that kept him out of the Aston Villa game, where he was replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta.
“Reece James has a little hamstring problem. I’m not saying that’s the reason he played Azpi, he probably would have played it anyway,” Lampard explained.
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