Lampard Could Return Against CSKA Moscow

Midfielder Frank Lampard could return from a thigh injury to feature in Manchester City’sChampions League match at home to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night.

The ex-England international, 36, who joined Manchester City from the Premier League champions’ sister club and emerging MLS side New York City in the summer, has been on the sidelines since October following a leg injury he sustained against Tottenham.

Lampard has hinted he could be ready in time for the crucial Champions League clash at home to Russian champions CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night.

“I’m not far off selection,” he declared. “Fingers crossed if all goes well over the next couple of days. I’ll be back in contention.

“I had a small injury in my thigh- an old injury I’d disturbed slightly.

“It wasn’t as bad as I’d first feared but you have to be very careful with muscle injuries. That was the issue.

Frank Lampard Says He Could Return in Time for Wednesday Night's Champions League Game Against CSKA Moscow. Image: Getty/AFP.
Frank Lampard Says He Could Return in Time for Wednesday Night’s Champions League Game Against CSKA Moscow. Image: Getty/AFP.

“I’ve been working very hard to get back because I was really enjoying playing at the time (I suffered the injury) and that was the bad thing about it.”

Lampard has had a bright start to life at the English champions after scoring four goals in six league and cup matches. As a result and coupled with some awe inspiring performances he became a fans’ favourite, and reports suggests he has already signed an extension option to his current loan deal.

His present loan deal is due to expire on January 7, but City- set to be without Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure for the duration of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)- and Lampard have agreed on a wage increase to extend that loan until the end of the season, according to the Daily Express.

Although Lampard spoke without mincing words about his new-found happiness at the Etihad and what he would love to make of his time in Manchester in the future, he remained coy on the subject of what lies ahead.

“All I can say is how much I’m enjoying it a City,” he said. “I’m contracted here until the end of December and my future will be at New York City at some stage.

“All I can do now is go week by week and play as well as I can when I am playing to bring a good contribution.

“I didn’t know what to expect before I came here but the move has opened my eyes to a fantastic club with fantastic people behind-the-scenes and I’m just trying to enjoy every minute.

“When I left Chelsea, I thought I was going to be moving out of the Premier League and that was a different angle. That’s all to come still but this is an absolute brilliant time for me.

“I want to look back on it and say I enjoyed it- but more than that I want to look back and say I made a bit of a difference in a positive way.

“What I will say is: for every minute I am here, I’ll give it everything and we’ll see how it goes.”