[rondwisan]

Crocked Lampard out for another two weeks
ESPNsoccernet - September 27, 2010


Frank Lampard faces at least another two weeks out as he recovers from a hernia operation.

Lampard, who will miss Chelsea's Champions League game against Marseille on Tuesday as well as the crunch Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend, has also been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley on October 12.

Chelsea are hopeful that Lampard will be fully recovered in time to face Aston Villa on October 16.

"Lampard can't play tomorrow," coach Carlo Ancelotti told the club's official website. "If he doesn't play with us, he is not able to play for the national team.

"He needs more time than we expected for his rest. After these games there will be an international break and he will be ready for the games after the international break.

"For now we have to choose [who else to play] up front. Sure we will start [Florent] Malouda and [Nicolas] Anelka but we will have to choose the right position up front.

"It could be [Daniel] Sturridge or [Gael] Kakuta, I could put these two players in, they are ready.

"From the beginning, [Josh] McEachran will go on the bench; he will be ready to go onto the pitch if it is necessary. John Terry will play."

Didier Drogba sits out the second game of his two-match ban.

Ancelotti also fielded questions about Anelka's state of mind in coming up against French opposition, given his high-profile suspension, and retirement, from the national team in the summer.

"Nicolas is always quiet," Ancelotti said. "I don't think he will be afraid or scared because the game is on French television. He is in a fantastic moment and he will play for the team as he always does.

"He is able to play in every position up front. For his kind of skills he is perfect to play up front because he has speed, he has quality and he can support the players who come back from midfield.

"He is a fantastic striker for this reason. He is able to play in every position on the pitch.

"OM [Olympique Marseille] is a good team, with good organisation. They use attacking play and they are quick. We know everything about the individual skills they have but it is difficult to say who is the most dangerous. Usually the most dangerous players are the strikers.

"My players will know everything about the opponent but the most important thing is our play. Obviously we will know the skills of the opponent's team but we must play our way. If we play our best, we will win.

"I don't ask them to have a reaction. We just have to play our football. We have to pay attention and get the points from this game. I don't need to see a reaction from my players; they will have a good game because it is an important game for us to arrive at the top of the group. It is just for this."