“N’Golo is not fit, we hope to have him back by next week” - Lampard

boss

Frank Lampard

is hanging on to hope that the midfielder

N’Golo Kante

will recover in time for the

clash against

next weekend.

The 29-year-old has been struggling with a hamstring injury he sustained during his side’s 3-1 defeat by

in early January.

He was sidelined when the Blues vanquished

in the FA Cup, won over

in the Premier League, and were defeated by

.

Chelsea are set to face

in the FA Cup on Sunday, but this game and Wednesday’s Premier League battle against

will be too early for Kante.

“

N’Golo is not fit and won’t be available,

” Lampard said. “

He’s working outside on his own with the physios at the moment and we hope to have him back as soon as

<em>

possible

.

“

We will have to see with N’Golo, as we don’t want to rush him, but we hope to have him back by next week.”

Although Kante is rested in the FA Cup clash, his international teammate

Olivier Giroud

is fit to play.

“

Olivier is fit

,” Lampard said. “

He trained with us today and he’s fine for the weekend

.”

The match with Luton is significantly important to out-of-form Chelsea. Their loss to Leicester City has been their fifth consecutive defeat in their last eight Premier League outings, putting Lampard’s position in jeopardy.

"

I don't listen to it. It's only everywhere if you want to scroll through social media or something, but I don't do that,

" Lampard said about his future at the club. "

I'm not stupid, I know the pressures that come with managing a top football club, but I just do my job, it doesn't matter to me."

Although Lampard insists he is not worried about the rumors, only a richer run of form will stop it.

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