Carlo Ancelotti will surely have breathed a sigh of relief when he received the news. Frank Lampard, he of fragile body this season, will be fit to face Bolton on Monday and with this Chelsea will look to rebuild their badly stuttering campaign.
The talismanic midfielder has been missing since August with hernia and groin problems and only returned to action in late December. Ancelotti would have feared the worst after Lampard went down in training but now it has been confirmed he will be fit to play in the clash at the Reebok Stadium.
In Lampard’s absence Chelsea’s form have suffered and they now find themselves seven points behind league leaders Manchester United.
Although it would over-simplify matters to say Chelsea will find themselves back to their imperious best now Lampard is finding his form after a lengthy layoff, the presence of their main driving force is essential if they are to rekindle any hope of retaining their crown.
In between Lampard’s goal on the opening day of the season and his penalty on January 2nd, the Blues only won nine games out of a possible eighteen games in the Premier League- not the form of champions.
But his two goals against Ipswich showed the ex-West Ham man nearing his best as he hustled and bustled and drove the team on to a 7-0 demolition of the Tractor Boys.
Lampard himself has admitted the team lack confidence, but the 2-0 victory over Blackburn at the weekend and marked a mini-revivial as Ancelott’s side have now picked up seven points from a possible twelve in the last four games; indication normal service has been resumed.
Their recent form has been noted by bookies and punters alike, with sports betting pundits seemingly swinging in favour of the Blues at least being able to push Manchester United all the way.
Lampard said: “You lose the feeling of being able to win every week. Once you’ve had that and lose it, it’s hard to get it back.”
The fixture against Bolton will be a tricky one, they are a team revived under Owen Coyle and play in a slick passing manner that can hurt Chelsea.
The emergence of Stuart Holden as a creative force and the presence of Johan Elmander and his box of tricks means Chelsea will have to be on their guard.
They look to be regaining the confidence that Lampard feared was long lost and while Bolton represents a considerable challenge, with Lampard fit and raring to go Chelsea are looking more than capable of rising to it.
Written by TCB reader Thomas Rooney
