Frank Lampard is out of Chelsea’s visit to Villa Park this weekend. Lampard limped out of training earlier today with thigh injury and a scan has revealed a tear in the same leg as the broken toe he suffered in the summer.

There’s no details of a length of absence as yet, however he is set to miss England’s fixtures against Israel and Russia and is therefore a doubt for a return to action for Chelsea’s game against Blackburn on September 15. Steve Sidwell seems likely to benefit from Lampard’s injury, although Mikel is another option.

I’ll be updating my shortlist and scout picks in a moment with the likes of Arteta, Bentley and Gamst-Pedersen all getting promotion up the rankings for the weekend fixtures.