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Lampard struggling with hamstring injury

By Catherine Hornby
March 04, 2006 21:55 IST
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Chelsea's Frank Lampard will miss Saturday's Premier League game at West Bromwich Albion because of a hamstring injury and may struggle to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona.

The 27-year-old midfield stalwart, who has sat out only one other Premier League game this season, was sent home from England's training camp this week and missed the friendly against Uruguay after tweaking the hamstring in training.

A Chelsea spokesman said on Friday that Lampard, runner-up in the World and European player of the year awards, was a certain absentee from the match against struggling West Brom.

England team mate Joe Cole said: "Frank's a world class player and any team would miss him.

"Hopefully we'll have everyone fit for Barcelona."

France defender William Gallas, who missed the 2-1 home defeat by Barcelona in the first leg of the knockout round tie 10 days ago, could return from a knee injury for the second match and may not be risked on Saturday.

Chelsea need to score at least two goals against Barcelona in Tuesday's match in Spain to make it through to the last eight in the Champions League.

"We know we have to go there and score two goals, and if anyone's capable of doing that it's our squad," midfielder Cole said.

Last year, Chelsea knocked Barcelona out at the same stage of the competition after overturning an identical scoreline in the second leg.

Chelsea made their comeback at home, however, beating Barcelona 4-2.

Cole, who was man of the match in England's 2-1 friendly win over Uruguay on Wednesday, may be rested for West Brom before facing Barcelona.

The midfielder shone against the South Americans, crossing for the equaliser and scoring a stoppage-time winner.

"I'm confident in myself at the moment and I just want to keep that going," Cole said.

The 24-year-old looks a certainty for Sven-Goran Eriksson's starting line-up at the World Cup finals in June but suggested he was only as good as his last game.

"I certainly won't be resting on my performances. I want to keep on improving and keep on playing well," he said.

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Catherine Hornby
Source: REUTERS
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