“Won’t be fit”- Frank Lampard rules out Chelsea defender for Newcastle clash

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard confirms that Reece James will miss the game against Newcastle United and Mason Mount is touch-and-go

Frank Lampard will be without his first-choice wing-back as Reece James is confirmed to miss the final game of the season against Newcastle United.

A few weeks ago, the England international picked up a hamstring injury during a hapless defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League. At the time, it was predicted that his season was over.

But, Lampard revealed that James came out to train before the game against Manchester United but soon went back in. Evening Standard reports that he will have another scan on his hamstring. The interim boss hopes the scan does not show much damage.

Here’s what Lampard said about James and updated the availability situation of Mason Mount as well (h/t Football.London):

“Reece won’t be fit and Mason (Mount) is going to be really tight. He (James) came out yesterday and went back in but because he had a little bit of an awareness but we hope the scan will show there is no real damage. It was just a little reminder that it is a bit too early to be out.

If we look at the numbers – since the start of last season, James has missed 45 games. For a player who is still only 23 years old, the amount of muscle injuries he is picking must be worrying.

Although the incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino may want to build a team around the talent of the England international, improving his availability might be one of his greater challenges.

Moreover, if James wants to become a key cog of the potential success Chelsea have in the coming years, he cannot continue to miss that number of games every season.

Can Pochettino and the staff get to the bottom of the problem and see if there is a solution? Either that or we just hope that the player’s luck turns and he does not get dealt with setbacks very often.

More Chelsea News:

• Chelsea beat Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund to sign Kendry Paez
• Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill claims he is still focused on Brighton Hove & Albion
• Mason Mount is preparing a goodbye in Chelsea’s last game this weekend

For the final game of the season against Newcastle, Lampard may rotate and allow more young players to shine against a top-four team. There is nothing to play for, but giving the home fans something to cheer about before the summer must be a priority.