All the very latest from Chelsea’s Cobham training ground ahead of Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League
Pulisic sets his sights
For Christian Pulisic, this season, so far, has featured no shortage of setbacks and doses of frustration.
After picking up a hamstring injury in the FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal back in August, the USA international has consistently struggled for fitness, with the hamstring problem continuing to interrupt his hopes of getting back on track.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund ace, after missing five matches, the winger is now eager to get back on track.
After scoring after stepping off the bench against Leeds last weekend, Pulisic will now be aiming to claim to just his third league start of the season, especially with Hakim Ziyech facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury of his own.
With the prospect of a return to the starting line-up now very possible, Pulisic has been spending time on the training ground getting in some shooting practice.
On Friday, the winger was spotted taking part in some shooting drills, suggesting that he could be line to replace Ziyech for the trip to Goodison Park.
Gilmour targets Premier League outing
After being sidelined for several months with a serious knee, young Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour made his first start since July on Tuesday evening, playing the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Krasnodar.
The former Rangers midfielder acted as a late substitute in the 4-0 win over Sevilla last week, finally marking his return to action. But after proving his fitness levels to Lampard, Gilmour made his first of the season against Krasnodar.
The 19-year-old successfully completed the duration of the contest, as Lampard rang the changes against the Russian outfit.
With Gilmour having proven to Lampard that he is now back fully fit and available to be called upon when required, he will be hoping to earn a spot in the match-day squad against Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees. Though a start is highly unlikely, Lampard could find room to accommodate him on the bench.
Gilmour has started just two Premier League games in the past, with the first being against Everton back in March, a performance that earned him no shortage of plaudits and the Man of the Match award.
Giroud celebrates
With Lampard having plucked for Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham to be Chelsea’s most used strikers so far this season, Tuesday’s draw with Krasnodar, as Lampard rang the changes, would have acted as an opportunity for Olivier Giroud to try and force his way back into his manager’s plans.
However, Giroud’s stunning four-goal haul against Sevilla, as well as his clever strike against Leeds United last weekend, means that the France international was handed a rest against Krasnodar, paving the way for Abraham to spearhead the attack.
With that in mind, Giroud, who did step off the bench for the last 10 minutes of Tuesday’s match, will be aiming to reclaim his place in the starting line-up, as he aims to continue his impressive run of form.
And judging by the expression on the former Arsenal man’s face during the training session at Cobham on Friday, Giroud appears to be, as expected, enjoying himself again after a frustrating period.
Giroud, in the light green bib, was pictured pumping his fists, suggesting he may have just scored a goal or won a light-hearted training ground game. Whatever it was, Giroud will be desperate to reclaim his place up front and continue his fine run of recent form against Everton.
Lampard barks out his demands
Whatever the game, whatever the opponent, a manager only ever has one goal: to win.
And with both Liverpool and Tottenham not in action until Sunday this weekend, Chelsea know that a win against Everton would see them return to the top of the Premier League table.
Though a trip to Goodison Park will be a far from easy assignment for the Blues, despite the Toffees having lost their early-season form, Lampard will be taking nothing for granted.
