Lampard names two Chelsea stars that won’t play again this season

Lampard insists Chelsea 'will be back' after Champions League exit

Chelsea caretaker boss Frank Lampard has confirmed Mason Mount and Reece James will not play again for the club this season after being ruled out with separate injury problems. The Blues pair will not play any further part in the Premier League this term and will miss the clash against Brentford on Tuesday in what could prove to be a huge blow to Lampard’s hopes of ending their losing run.

Lampard, who has lost all four matches since taking temporary charge from Bruno Saltor after Graham Potter’s sacking, will be without James and Mount for the foreseeable future with a west London derby to navigate on Tuesday night.

The England duo continue to struggle with hamstring and pelvic injuries respectively, which has kept them out of crucial matches this season. And Lampard confirmed the Blues will have to make do without their key men for the final seven matches of the season.

“Reece James is unavailable, probably for the season. Mason the same, potential for the last game of the season,” Lampard told reporters at a news conference. “Kai [Havertz is] struggling a little bit with a knee injury, but should be training by the end of the week.”

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Mount has not started a game for the club since their 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on February 18, although the 24-year-old has made a number of brief appearances from the bench. However, he was left as an unused substitute for the 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid last week which ended the club’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season.

James has sustained a recurring hamstring problem that has limited the right wing-back to just 16 appearances in the Premier League and the 23-year-old is now set for a period of recovery after aggravating the issue against Madrid, with Lampard forced to rely on backup options Trevoh Chalobah and Cesar Azpilicueta.

“Reece had a hamstring injury. Mason has been carrying this pelvic injury for quite a while, so he’s been trying, but we’ve got to a stage where he will have minor surgery. Probably a four-week recovery,” Lampard added.

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Mount’s injury could prevent the midfielder from making another appearance for the club as speculation persists over his contract situation.

He has only 14 months remaining on his £60,000-a-week contract, with reports suggesting Liverpool and Manchester City are monitoring his situation ahead of a possible £60million move this summer.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is understood to have made a last-ditch effort to convince Mount to extend his deal, with the imminent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino likely to have some impact on his decision.

But after turning down a seven-year contract, it remains to be seen whether Mount will turn out in blue colours again at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea must collect 11 points to avoid registering their worst-ever Premier League finish after a dreadful campaign in which four different managers have taken the manager’s spot in the dugout. And with a maximum of 21 points available, playing in Europe is still not mathematically out of the question.

With that in mind, Lampard hit back at suggestions their season was already over as he demanded focus from his players before facing surprise package Brentford.

“I don’t have a mentality that there’s nothing to play for. You won’t compete absolutely every season,” he added.

“It comes down to personal pride and responsibility. The run-in is really tough, so my interest is to see how the players react to that.”

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