Chelsea’s first game of the New Year is against Brighton at the Falmer Stadium.
Ahead of the clash, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has revealed that his captain Cesar Azpilicueta should be fit for the clash, while he ruled out Reece James and Marcos Alonso.
James and Alonso were missing from the squad for the game against Arsenal, and Lampard has confirmed that the duo will also be unavailable for Brighton.
Lampard said: “Azpi felt it from Tottenham when he came off towards the end. Southampton he was feeling it during the game. With Reece James injured the options are less, and he’s a fighter so he stayed on.
“At Arsenal he said he felt better, so fingers crossed. It was more precautionary we had Lamptey in the squad.
“Reece James is out for a week or 10 days. He’s had a bit of a niggle around his ankle injury which he had surgery on in pre-season. That was a bit of a worry, but the doctors are saying at the moment he’ll be a week or so.
“Alonso is similar. It’s the top of a glute muscle injury. They’re in a similar boat, not terrible injuries but obviously they’re missing a pretty crucial time.”