Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has revealed he “had a good chat with Oli before he went away and I always respect all the players.”

Despite playing regularly for Les Bleus, Giroud has been consigned to the Chelsea bench while Tammy Abraham takes the cetral stage for the London club.

The youngster has scored eight goals in the Premier League, and Frank Lampard has therefore kept faith with Abraham.

Giroud insisted over the international break that he would work hard to win back his place in the starting XI but also refused to rule out requesting a move away from Stamford Bridge.

As much as the Blues manager wants to keep the France international in the team, he won’t stop the him from considering his options in January.

‘I had a good chat with Oli before he went away and I always respect all the players, but particularly the players of that age of low thirties,’ Lampard said.

‘I love his professionalism. He was bang on when he spoke to me and with his quotes [suggesting he could request a move in January] when he was away with France.

‘He shouldn’t be happy and accept not playing. That’s what good players do. I think, as I said to Oli, he will get his games and be a big influence for us.

‘At the moment, because of how Tammy is playing, there hasn’t been the minutes, so I would happily sit down with Oli in January. But that is a long way away. I want him here.’