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Chelsea handed welcome injury return for Man Utd clash as Lampard offers disappointing Badiashile update

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(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Joao Felix will return to the Chelsea side on Thursday for their Premier League clash against Manchester United, Frank Lampard has confirmed.

The 23-year-old was taken out of the squad prior to their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend after picking up a small knock.

Felix was replaced by Ethan Wady on the bench for the Blues in Manchester, however Lampard has offered Chelsea a boost after revealing the Portugal international would be available for selection against Erik ten Hag’s side.

Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante all remain absent through injury after Lampard added he wasn’t expecting any absentees to return for the trip to Old Trafford.

He told reporters: “We don’t have players returning. Mason, Reece and Chilly won’t make the game. Joao is back involved.”

Benoit Badiashile is also sidelined for Chelsea. He was ruled out for the rest of the season and at least a couple of months with a hamstring injury, a body blow which the club confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.

Lampard expressed his disappointment for the 22-year-old, who he has been pleased with since taking over in April, and confirmed how long he is expected to be out for.

The 44-year-old continued: “It’s a big blow for him. I’m really disappointed for him because he’s come here and impressed. The games before he got injured, I was very happy with him. He’s going to be a really good player for the club.

“The injury is unfortunate, it’s a bit of a complicated injury. We’re probably talking months rather than weeks, unfortunately.

“I hope, for him, the timing for him over the summer he’s not missing games and he comes back stronger.”

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