Shortly after that game, Lampard admitted that Kante’s injury does not look promising and he has now confirmed that the midfielder won’t return to action until mid-March, he told: “N’Golo is not fit. It’s a muscle injury, similar to the one he came off with against Arsenal recently. Hopefully three weeks, something around that.”

Aside from Kante, Christian Pulisic remains out of contention for the first-team duties as he has yet to recover from an adductor problem. The United States international had participated in training with the Under 23s over the past week but Lampard has now indicated that there is no return date for the former Borussia Dortmund man.

The west London side, however, have some positive news on the injury front for the weekend with Andreas Christensen, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek bound to make the matchday squad. Christensen suffered a broken nose during the United clash on Monday but Lampard has confirmed that the Dane would be available after getting himself a protective mask.

Abraham, on the other hand, has been nursing an ankle problem but Lampard believes that the marksman should make the squad for the Tottenham Hotspur game, provided he is able to pass the late fitness test. Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, could make his first appearance of the season after managing to improve his fitness after a lengthy Achilles injury.

Lampard has confirmed that the England international will make the matchday squad for the cross-town derby but he won’t command a starting spot. Loftus-Cheek could get some minutes off the bench, provided the Blues find themselves in a commanding position on Saturday afternoon.