Frank Lampard has been handed a significant boost ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday night as Thiago Silva, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante all returned to training on Monday.
The Blues face a seriously tricky test in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, going to the Spanish capital for the first leg this week before hosting Real on 18 April.
Given the Londoners are in really poor form themselves, sitting 11th in the Premier League, it is a big ask of them to reach the semis, but their chances have been improved by players returning from injury.
Thiago Silva has missed the last seven matches due to a knee ligament problem and is not going to be ready to play on Wednesday after being out since February, but his presence will be welcome at Cobham.
Mount and Kane both missed the trip to Wolves on Saturday, which ended in a 1-0 loss for Lampard’s men, but should be options for the manager in Spain.
After the midfield pair missed the game at Molineux, Lampard said: ‘Kante is managing his fitness. He is fit but we know after his injury the idea of game, game, game is too much.
‘N’Golo will be fine as it stands. It is not an issue, we were just managing his game time.
‘Mason had a feeling in his pelvic area, an injury he has been carrying the last few days. He has trained in those days but has struggled a little bit.’
A statement from Chelsea on Monday read: ‘Raheem Sterling, Reece James, N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount all trained, with N’Golo and Mason missing the trip to Wolves altogether.
‘Thiago Silva also returned to the grass. The Brazilian has missed the last seven games due to a knee ligament injury and has not played for the Blues since the end of February.’
Chelsea are struggling for form and confidence, but will be boosted by Real Madrid losing 3-2 at home to Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.
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