Frank Lampard confirms Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is OUT of trip to Bournemouth

Frank Lampard has ruled out Tammy Abraham indefinitely as Chelsea try to conquer an ankle injury that has dogged his top scorer for more than a month.

Abraham will not be involved against Bournemouth today and England boss Gareth Southgate, without Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford and international friendlies looming, will be concerned.

‘We are trying to find a solution,’ said Lampard. ‘It’s an ankle injury around the ligament. 

Frank Lampard has confirmed Tammy Abraham is not fit for Chelsea's trip to BournemouthT

Frank Lampard has confirmed Tammy Abraham is not fit for Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth

The striker limped off after aggravating a previous ankle injury during e warm down

The striker limped off after aggravating a previous ankle injury during Tuesday’s warm down

‘He has inflammation and that is causing pain so we are looking at ways to get rid of that pain. It’s frustrating that he comes in and out somewhat but he’s injured. Sometimes things that are about pain threshold are like that.

‘If he is not comfortable he probably has to come out for a few days at least and see where it is going. He is not active for the next couple of days. I don’t know how long he will be out.’

Abraham suffered the injury late in a game against Arsenal on January 21 when he slid into the advertising boards. 

With all substitutes used he played on, sat out an FA Cup tie at Hull City and had a pain-killing injection in order to start the next Premier League game against Leicester — when the problem resurfaced.

Lampard called on his players to produce a response to the heavy defeat by Bayern Munich

Lampard called on his players to produce a response to the heavy defeat by Bayern Munich

The 22-year-old missed out against Manchester United and came off the bench against Tottenham and Bayern Munich only for it to flare up in the warm-down at Stamford Bridge after the 3-0 loss to Bayern on Tuesday.

Lampard confirmed scans were clear and did not expect the problem to require surgery.

Abraham started the season in prolific form but the manager still wanted a new striker during the January transfer window to ease the burden on the centre forward as he chased a top-four finish.

Lampard believes Champions League qualification will represent success after a season with a transfer ban and the sale of Eden Hazard. ‘It’s a very dated phrase, when people say that you are Chelsea, there’s no way you should be happy with fourth,’ added Lampard.

‘No, the Premier League has changed. It is not like it was for Manchester United players 15 or 20 years ago, or Chelsea players when we were first or second for a period in the mid 2000s.

‘It’s not like that any more. The landscape has changed. Manchester City and Liverpool have set incredible standards in the league and we have had some outside influences with the ban and a huge player left the club.’

Midfielder Christian Pulisic also remains sidelined indefinitely with what Lampard called a ‘delicate injury’ to his adductor muscle.

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