Frank Lampard gives update on N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount ahead of Liverpool clash, says “it’s a boost with N’Golo”

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has given an update on the likely involvement of N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount in the Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Mason Mount hobbled off against Valencia on Tuesday after receiving a nasty tackle on his ankle, while N’Golo Kante has been out for a while as he continues to recover from an ankle injury of his own, initially sustained towards the end of last season.

Lampard hopes to have the pair available for the visit of the league leaders, but he stressed he must proceed with caution when deciding whether or not they play. He started by discussing Mount’s prospects.

‘He’s got a chance,’ Lampard revealed.

‘We all saw the image of the tackle afterwards which made it look really bad. Hopefully it’s not so bad. We are trying to get him moving today. It’s one I’m going to have to call later on just before the game with another 24 hours in the bank.

‘We’re trying, and the good thing with Mason is his attitude, which I keep going on about. He will give everything to get out there and play for this club, particular a game of this size. We will have every opportunity and try to get him there.

‘There’s a lot of swelling and it didn’t look the best. Some injuries with the ankle, from my experience as well, if there’s proper damage there’s not much you can do, but sometimes if they’re swollen, and you strap it up old-school and get out there, it can be done.

‘We won’t take any risks with him individually, obviously, because there’s a bigger picture, but we will all do our best.’

Lampard then focused on Kante, who has been back in training with the squad this week.

‘It’s a boost with N’Golo. We all know the importance of him to the team. The question for me is how fit he is. He has had a long time out now, since the back-end of last season. I know he played a couple of games this year, but I wouldn’t count them as such because he missed pre-season.

‘What he did in Istanbul was miraculous, to play how he did without training. Now we just have to manage him, similar to what I said about Mason. But it’s great to have him back around us.’

Jorginho wants Chelsea to continue what Maurizio Sarri started at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea midfielder has given a good reason why it is important to keep playing out from the back despite the risks involved.

The Italy international believes Unai Emery is taking a worthwhile risk by making his Arsenal defenders play out of their area from a goal kick.

In their 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road last Sunday, the Gunners gifted Watford a goal as Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ pass from inside his own area was intercepted which then allowed Tom Cleverley to score.

Manchester City were also caught out in their 3-2 defeat to Norwich City last weekend as Nicolas Otamendi’s mistake on the edge of his own area led to Teemu Pukki’s goal.

But Jorginho is adamant that playing out from the back has major advantages if defenders are able to evade pressure from the opposition attackers, report the Metro.

‘But it is still a risk worth taking,’ Jorginho told The Athletic.

‘When you emerge from that pressure, with one or two passes the whole pitch can open up for you.

‘You just have to have the confidence in yourself.’

Callum Hudson-Odoi aims dig at Maurizio Sarri, reveals players’ mood under Frank Lampard

Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed the mood amongst the Chelsea camp is “more happy, more positive” since Frank Lampard replaced Maurizio Sarri.

Blues legend Lampard was brought in as unhappy Sarri left Stamford Bridge after one season in charge, taking over at Juventus.

The new Chelsea boss has put trust in his young stars, with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori scoring all 11 of their goals so far this term.

And Hudson-Odoi, 18, who has been sidelined with an Achilles injury, told The Standard it is “encouraging” to see his manager reward youth with gametime – having only made 11 starts under Sarri, report The Sun.

He said: “He [Lampard] has come in and given a lot of players a chance, even in training he is giving a lot of youth team players the chance to train with us.

“It is good for me because it is encouraging, you see players that you have watched or played with throughout the whole time and they are getting opportunities to play and you have that same hunger and desire, you want to play as well.

“It gives me the confidence and boost of if I am doing well, working hard in training I will get the opportunity to play as well.

“The only thing [that has changed] is that we’ve got a more positive vibe in the changing room and on the pitch.

“We are all happy I think because the manager has come in, he used to be a great player himself at the club, and now he has come in and we all give respect to what he has done for the club before.

“I think the camp now is just more happy, more positive.”

Hudson-Odoi’s frustration at a lack of game time last season led to Bayern Munich lodging a host of bids for the winger, reaching up to £35million.

But the club insisted their academy product was not for sale, and after a summer of negotiations finally saw the winger pen a new five-year deal, worth £150,000 a week.

Hudson-Odoi said: “It is a great feeling because it feels like the fans have that belief and confidence in you, that they want you to come back and do so well.

“For me it is warming, knowing that the manager and the staff around, plus the fans, everybody wants you to come back and for me I just can’t wait to be back now, start playing and hopefully just show what I can do.”

Arsenal star says he won’t go to war against his club over future

Shkodran Mustafi insists he will not go to war against Arsenal after being denied a summer move away from the Emirates.

The defender played his first minutes of the season in last night’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

“I’ve never been someone who begins a war when something doesn’t work out,” he said.

“I always said: If it is possible, I am open to take the next step. If not, I keep playing my football.

“My father, who is my agent, spoke to the club. I am an Arsenal player and have still got two years on my contract.

“The manager said he sees me the same way he sees every player in the team. That’s why I played today and that’s it.

“We are going to see what the future holds.”