Chelsea Beware: Could injury to this superstar derail the Blues' title charge?

I’m probably going to upset a few Chelsea fans with this admittance and subsequent comparison but here goes, as a United fan, I’ve lost count over the years how many times people dismissed the need for Paul Scholes in the Red’s midfield. Every season we’d hear the same old nonsense about ‘Scholes powers being in decline’ and ‘Scholes not really being needed anymore’ well up until his latest retirement those statements were always wrong- you could actually argue they still are.

It seems we hear the same old tripe from certain sections of the press when it comes to Frank Lampard- each year is seemingly destined to be his last as an important member of the Chelsea side- and each year we see him leaving a lot of journalists with egg on their faces. Lampard has proven during this campaign that he’s far from finished- and despite being 35-years-old – he is still one of the Premier League’s top midfielders.

Many suspected Jose Mourinho wouldn’t use Lampard much on his return to Stamford Bridge, but the goalscoring Chelsea legend has found himself being a big part of the returning one’s plans.

As the song goes “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” and over the years Lampard has been something of an ever-present in the Chelsea side, so his recent injury which is expected to keep him out for a month will come as blow to the Pensioners. As is customary Lampard has weighed in with some vital goals this season and his tally of four isn’t too shabby when you consider how some of the strikers at Stamford Bridge have fared.

Chelsea’s Top Goalscorers This Season

Despite goals obviously being a huge part of Lampard’s game, they’re not the only thing he brings to the side and the fact he’s bagged himself ten Squawka awards this season indicates just how impressive he’s been this season.

Frank Lampard Squawka Awards

As if all that wasn’t enough to make Chelsea fans lament the loss of Lampard for a month, there’s also the number of chances he creates for others in the side. Not bad for a player, wrongly associated with ‘only’ getting goals.

There’s no denying the importance of Lampard to this Chelsea side, Jose Mourinho will just be hoping he’s back in time for the trip to the Etihad on February 3rd- a game that could prove seminal in the title race and one where the experience, goals and creativity of Lampard will be vital.