JAKARTA - Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that the aging defender Thiago Silva can take part in a visit to Burnley headquarters for the seventh week of the English Premier League at Turf Moor, Saturday, October 31.
The 36-year-old defender was not involved in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Krasnodar in the Champions League Group E in Russia on Tuesday, but Lampard said this was only a precautionary measure rather than a fitness problem for Thiago Silva.
"Thiago is fit. Not taking him on a trip to Russia is more of a precautionary measure and we have already discussed it," said Lampard, quoted by Antara from the official Chelsea website, Thursday night.
"We just want to make sure he can make a sustainable contribution throughout the season and with such a busy schedule, it makes more sense he is not involved in games that take too much time on the road," he added.
Furthermore, the absence of Thiago Silva in the match against Krasnodar is an opportunity for other Chelsea center-backs to show their abilities and according to Lampard, Antonio Ruediger has benefited from the situation.
Meanwhile, Lampard stated that goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will certainly not appear in the match against Burnley because he is still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered.
Even if he recovers, it is not impossible that Lampard will continue to trust Edouard Mendy, who he calls Chelsea's main goalkeeper, even though he only arrived from Rennes at the last transfer window deadline.
Mendy even had the opportunity to match Petr Cech's record as the first Chelsea goalkeeper to record a zero break in his first three Premier League games.
Chelsea are currently stuck in 10th place in the standings with nine points after the last two games only won a draw.
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