Frank Lampard has insisted Ruben Loftus-Cheek is back to full fitness but that the head coach is going to have to be careful over the minutes he gives the Chelsea star.
The 24-year-old has not featured for the first team in more than a year after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in a post-season friendly in May 2019.
Loftus-Cheek featured in three U23s matches before the season was suspended, and had been on the bench for a couple of Premier League games.
The England international has looked sharp in training since the Blues returned to Cobham and featured in both the behind-closed-doors friendly last week.
Loftus-Cheek bagged a brace in the 7-1 rout over QPR at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in preparation for the Premier League’s return.
And while Lampard is delighted with his progress, the Chelsea boss is remaining cautious with how much game time he will get.
“He is looking fit, taking part in the training games and working really hard to get back. It was a really difficult injury he had and we have missed him this season,” Lampard said.
“He has got himself into a position where he is fit, but we haven’t had enough matches for him, so he will have to be managed, definitely, in terms of the minutes he plays. Not over-straining, but he is looking good going into this game.”
The Blues are back in action on Sunday when they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park, however they will be without Fikayo Tomori, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is a doubt.
“We have a couple of issues,” Lampard added. “Fikayo Tomori has a muscle injury, probably from the stresses of trying to get fit quickly.
“We have had to try to go against that, but he has an injury which should keep him out for at least ten days of so. With Callum Hudson-Odoi he had a small injury earlier on in the training process. He is not match fit, albeit he is physically fit now.”
