Frank Lampard has ruled left-back Emerson Palmieri out of Chelsea’s next three matches after he had to be substituted during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old has emerged as Chelsea’s first-choice left-back under Lampard this season but suffered a thigh injury during Italy’s win over Finland last month.
After missing Chelsea’s matches against Wolves and Valencia, Emerson was recalled for the visit of Liverpool at the weekend but he lasted only 15 minutes before being forced off.
Lampard has confirmed that Emerson suffered a re-occurrence of the same injury and won’t be available for selection again until after the upcoming international break in two weeks time.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup game against Grimbsy Town, Lampard said: ‘Emerson now won’t be back until the other side of the international break [which is during mid-October].
‘It will be a few weeks because it is the reoccurrence of an injury so we have to be a bit careful with it.’
Emerson wasn’t Chelsea’s only injury victim against Liverpool as centre-back Andreas Christensen also had to be replaced in the first half, shortly after Roberto Firmino had put Liverpool 2-0 up.
Lampard had more positive news on the Dane, though, saying: ‘Andreas is not too severe. Hopefully, he won’t be out for too long but I can’t give a timeframe.’
Marcos Alonso is poised to benefit from Emerson’s spell on the sidelines with a run of games having lost his place under Maurizio Sarri during the latter stages of last season.
