Frank Lampard is apparently rated as 50-50 for England’s Qualifying clash with Russia next Wednesday. Lampard has been sent back to Chelsea to continue his rehabilitation from his thigh muscle tear and McClaren is hopeful that the midfielder will react well to treatment and have a chance of turning out next week. Meanwhile Didier Drogba has withdrawn from the Ivory Coast squad for their Nations Cup tie with Gabon this weekend. Drogba hobbled off in the defeat at Villa Park on Sunday with a knee injury.
Both are obvious doubts for Chelsea’s clash with Blackburn on September 15 but there is better news for Jose. Both Wayne Bridge and Ricardo Carvalho are apparently back in training. Carvalho could be available by the end of the month while Bridge is thought to be still 6-weeks from a return.