Frank Lampard offers Chelsea team news hint ahead of Bournemouth clash as Blues handed injury boost

Frank Lampard has been offered an injury boost after confirming no new problems in the Chelsea camp ahead of facing AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Chelsea travel to the south coast to face Gary O’Neil’s in-form Bournemouth side, who have won four of their last five league matches and now sit level on points with the Blues in 13th place.

Lampard has overseen six matches since returning to Stamford Bridge on a caretaker basis and has lost every single game, with the latest being a 3-1 defeat to London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

The 44-year-old is without key duo Reece James and Mason Mount for the remainder of the season, while Kalidou Koulibaly could be sidelined for the remaining five games, as Marc Cucurella eyes a return before May 28 due to a thigh injury.

Chelsea are desperate to secure their first win since March 11 when they beat Leicester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium, then under the management of Graham Potter who was sacked last month.

Noni Madueke is set to receive more minutes, Lampard confirmed after the Arsenal loss, following his goal against the Gunners – his first for the club since joining in January – and Chelsea have no further injury problems ahead of the meeting with the Cherries this weekend.

“No, we are all good,” responded Lampard to any fresh injury problems. “As we were.”

One player who is on the verge of getting more minutes is defender Benoit Badiashile. He has been negatively affected since joining after not making their Champions League knockout squad, while also having to compete with the likes of Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah for a place in the side.

Lampard continued: “Very close (to playing). He couldn’t play in the Champions League for me. He played against Brighton, which is a difficult match for everybody.

“Of course, he’s close. He’s in competition with Thiago, Wesley and Trevoh in that area of the pitch.

“He’s training well. He’s come here, a lot of players have come from a different league at a youngish age into the Premier League. I think it’s understandable to have moments of maybe game time, maybe moments of a not, to a degree of a developing player, but more finding your feet in this league.”

Should Lampard’s side suffer a seventh straight defeat at the weekend, Bournemouth will leapfrog Chelsea in the Premier League table to take 12th spot.