Lamps blow hits Chelsea for six

CHELSEA will anxiously await the arrival of Frank Lampard from England duty today amid fears he could be sidelined until Christmas.

LAMPARD Thigh tear LAMPARD: Thigh tear

Midfielder Lampard became the latest withdrawal from Fabio Capello’s squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly with Brazil after suffering a tear to his left thigh during training yesterday morning.

Lampard immediately pulled out of the session at the Khalifa International Stadium and underwent a scan with the FA’s medical team in Doha before catching a flight home.

England have said Lampard could be out for a couple of weeks, but Chelsea are worried the injury will prove more serious and necessitate a spell on the sidelines of up to six weeks.

Chelsea will run their own medical tests on the player today and manager Carlo Ancelotti will be keeping his fingers crossed for a positive diagnosis.

Lampard’s withdrawal from the England camp follows that of David Beckham and Glen Johnson earlier in the week and leaves Capello without several of his leading stars as he looks to gauge his team’s progress against the Brazilians.

Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, David James, Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon were all left out of the original 24-man party due to injury.

Capello is likely to ask Michael Carrick to partner Gareth Barry in midfield against Dunga’s side.

RUSSIAN starlet Alan Dzagoev, dubbed the new Andrey Arshavin, has revealed his dream is to one day play for Chelsea.

Dzagoev, 19, who plays for CSKA Moscow, has already caught the attention of Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Real Madrid among others, and could follow fellow international Arshavin into the Premier League.

Dzagoev said: “I’ve supported Chelsea for the last five years or so. I dream of playing at Stamford Bridge.”

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