Skip to content

Antonio Rudiger in Chelsea squad to face Lille, Fikayo Tomori ruled out by Frank Lampard

Lampard: "There will be times going forward, whether it's January or next summer, of course we're going to look at the opportunity to strengthen because we want to improve."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard welcomes back Antonio Rudiger ahead of their Champions League match against Lille - and challenges him to kick on

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has included Antonio Rudiger in his squad to face Lille in the Champions League but has ruled Fikayo Tomori out of the match.

Tomori was an unused substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday and the England international will now miss Tuesday's match due to a slight hip strain.

Chelsea need to win to guarantee their place in the last 16 of the competition and Lampard has been handed a boost by Rudiger, who could make his first appearance since September after recovering from a groin injury.

"He is in the squad, so there's a chance," said Lampard. "It's good to have him back, he's been training really well.

Frank Lampard
Image: Frank Lampard's side must beat Lille to guarantee their place in the Champions League knockout stages

"He's got a lot of his fitness work done since the injury healed.

"The other news I suppose is that Tomori is out. He's got a small tiny strain around his hip area and it's been bothering him so I've taken him out for a few days."

Rudiger missed the start of the season after having knee surgery and the Germany international suffered a further setback in September when he sustained a groin injury in his first match back against Wolves.

Also See:

Lampard says the defender is desperate to return to first-team action after a season disrupted by injury.

"He looks fit and ready to go," said Lampard. "I know he's hungry.

Fikayo Tomori in action for Chelsea
Image: Fikayo Tomori will miss the crucial clash with Lille

"In terms of people building him up, it's probably rightly so. Everybody spoke about youth at the start of the season and transfer bans.

"The idea that we started the season with five big players all injured for a period of time. Carrying on that now, Rudiger is just back and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] is a big player for us as well.

"You do miss those individuals, let's see what he can add for us now."

Chelsea had their transfer ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday but Lampard insists he won't rush into making signings in the January window.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Lampard says Chelsea can't be too 'reactionary' in the January transfer window after having their ban lifted

"I think you've got to be careful with being too reactionary," he said. "Ban lifted, defeat at Everton. It's quite easy to come to that conclusion I suppose.

"Just as much as people were saying at the start of the season that we've got all these young boys, this is going to be no problem we don't need any players. At a club like Chelsea, it's a balance.

"You have a strong squad, which I believe we have, but you have to look at whether we can strengthen.

"There will be times going forward, whether it's January or next summer, of course we're going to look at the opportunity to strengthen because we want to improve."

Win £250,000 on Tuesday!
Win £250,000 on Tuesday!

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot for the fifth time this year.

Around Sky