Frank Lampard confirms Ben Chilwell injury and says Chelsea teen star Lewis Hall ‘in the running’ for remaining games
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has hinted that academy star Lewis Hall could be offered more first-team minutes.
The 18-year-old has already eight senior appearances for the Blues, although this could increased with Ben Chilwell's latest absence.
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England international Chilwell was substituted off late on in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth with what appeared to be another hamstring injury.
Ahead of their home clash against Nottingham Forest, Lampard confirmed that the left-back is once again out of action.
"Not fit," he on the 26-year-old. "It's a similar story to Reece James and Mason Mount.
"I feel for him [Chilwell]. We miss big players. Ben, Mason and Reece are big internationals."
With Chilwell and Marc Cucurella out for Chelsea, Lampard has offered hope of more senior minutes to 18-year-old Hall, who has impressed the Blues' interim boss.
"Lewis has a chance," Lampard added. "[I was] tempted to put him on last week but I felt with the nature of the game, I felt that the experience of Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] in the game was more suitable at that point.
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"In terms of Lewis I've been really impressed with his training, he's a very good player, a really talented player.
"I think if anything there's one thing he needs to come out of himself that bit more because he should really trust how good he is and feel at home with the group. I think he does feel that.
"I didn't get to work with Lewis before, he was a bit younger, so I've been watching him from afar and been really impressed and he hasn't dampened that at all, the opposite. So, he's in the running for the last four games to be involved."
Hall was in line to join the England Under-20s squad for the upcoming World Cup, but Lampard has revealed that he blocked him from leaving Chelsea due to their injury woes.
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"It's my decision that he needs to stay with us for the four games," said the club legend.
"We've obviously got injuries with both out left-backs who have been playing regularly this season, and that leaves us in a position where we want and need Lewis."
Hall made his first-team debut for Chelsea last January in their 5-1 win against Chesterfield, in which he assisted Romelu Lukaku for their third goal.
The youngster has already seven appearances this season, with six of those coming as starts under former boss Graham Potter.
With Chelsea having nothing to play for this season, Hall could certainly be handed more senior experience in their final four games.
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