According to reports, Hakim Ziyech is in contention to make his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace tomorrow after taken a full part in training this week, while Christian Pulisic is also to a return in a significant boost for Frank Lampard & co.
Whether boss Frank Lampard includes Ziyech in his squad tomorrow remains to be seen but the technically gifted Morocco winger has fully recovery from the knee injury he sustained in the club’s only pre-season friendly against Brighton on August 29.
While Hakim Ziyech is unlikely to start, he could be named on the bench against Roy Hodgson’s side. Lampard, meanwhile, may take a cautious approach with Christian Pulisic, who has suffered from a series of niggles since joining the club last year, having previously warned of the need for load management.
The USA international injured a hamstring in the FA Cup final loss to Arsenal in August but returned to training towards the end of pre-season.
He was going to be in contention for the Premier League opener way to Brighton, which Chelsea won 3-1, only to suffer a setback in training 48 hour before the clash.
With the international break coming after the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge, head coach Frank Lampard may protect the 21-year-old for another fortnight rather than rush him back for a game in which they will be expected to win comfortably despite Palace’s good start to the campaign.
Lampard, meanwhile, will provide a firm update on the fitness of both attackers when he speaks to the media this afternoon but speaking before the midweek defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur he said that both were “not far away” from involvement.