Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard has said that Reece James and Mason Mount are unlikely to play again this season.
Chelsea have had an underwhelming and disappointing campaign in the 22/23 season. The Blues are certain to finish the campaign without silverware. They have already been knocked out of EFL Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League and languish at 11th in the Premier League points table.
Chelsea will fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the Blues set to miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Stamford Bridge outfit are already 20 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the English top flight.
In another blow to Chelsea, Frank Lampard confirmed ahead of their match against Brentford that Reece James and Mason Mount are unlikely to feature for the club again this season.
Read More: Chelsea Closing In On Appointing Mauricio Pochettino as Their New Permanent Manager
Frank Lampard: Reece James & Mason Mount are unavailable for the Brentford clash, probably for the season
“Reece James is unavailable, probably for the season,” Frank Lampard said [via 90min]. “Mason Mount, the same. Potential [to return] for the last game of the season but probably not. That’s obviously disappointing for us.
The Chelsea interim manager added: “They’re big players. Reece had a hamstring injury that he picked up in the midweek game [against Real Madrid], got through the game but scanned it the following day.
“Mason has been carrying this pelvic injury for quite a while, definitely predates me [after being named caretaker manager]. He’s been trying, the medical staff have been trying, but we’ve got to the stage now where he’ll have minor surgery and then probably a four-week recovery, which we all know where that gets us to.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea are closing in on appointing Mauricio Pochettino as the permanent successor to Graham Potter. Although the deal has not been concluded yet, there is growing confidence talks between Chelsea and Pochettino will have a positive conclusion.
Meanwhile, Mason Mount has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer transfer window. The England international’s current Chelsea contract expires in 2024 and he will enter the final year of his contract in the summer. Liverpool are reportedly leading the race for Mount although Chelsea have not given up hope of tying him down to a new contract.
Chelsea will face Brentford in the Premier League in their next fixture. The match kicks off at 12:15 am Indian Standard Time on April 27.
