Frank Lampard confirms major boost for Chelsea with Antonio Rudiger available for Lille clash

Antonio Rudiger of Chelsea in action during a training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group H match against Lille OSC at Chelsea.

Frank Lampard has confirmed that Antonio Rudiger has returned from a three-month injury layoff and could face Lille in an all-important clash for Chelsea on Tuesday evening. 

The Blues looked on course to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages last month as Christian Pulisic put them in front in Valencia before the Spanish club fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw at the Mestalla. 

That result makes it a huge match for Chelsea tomorrow night and it comes in the wake of the side’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.

While Lampard will be without Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud at Stamford Bridge, he has been boosted by the return of Rudiger for the crucial Group H encounter.

Rudiger recovered from knee surgery to play 45 minutes against Wolves back in mid-September before suffering separate injury setback with his groin.

The Germany defender joined up with his team-mates in training at the end of November and is back in contention to make his second appearance of the season. “He is in the squad. It is good to have him back,” Lampard confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon. “Tomori is out, he has had a bit of a hip issue. Olivier [Giroud] is out as well.”

Asked about Rudiger’s return, Lampard added: “It’s potentially difficult but we have given him a lot of work. “He has come through that and he looks fit and ready to go, I know he is hungry. “He is a good defender, you miss those individuals. And then see what he can bring for us.”

Lampard is hoping his players feed off the Stamford Bridge crowd to get the result they need against Lille. “Tomorrow is like a final for us,” he said. “We have played well before, Ajax away we played good. At home it was crazy. “Every game you feel a different pressure. You know if we win we go through.”

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