Tammy Abraham: Chelsea and England wait to discover extent of striker's ankle injury
Frank Lampard believes Chelsea can cope without Tammy Abraham after the talisman striker suffered an ankle injury scare in the 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal.
Abraham hobbled off the Stamford Bridge turf at full-time as Chelsea failed to capitalise on old boy David Luiz's red card, thwarted by Hector Bellerin's late equaliser.
Cesar Azpilicueta thought he had scrambled Chelsea to victory with a neat finish only to see Bellerin steal a share of the spoils, after Gabriel Martinelli's breakaway goal had cancelled out Jorginho's penalty (celebrations pictured below).
Abraham boasts 13 Premier League goals for Chelsea in his breakthrough top-flight campaign with the Blues, but boss Lampard insists his side could cope even if the England star faces a spell on the sidelines.
Asked for the severity of Abraham's injury, Lampard replied: "He has had ice on his ankle, but I haven't spoken to him yet so I don't know."
When asked if Chelsea could cope without Abraham, who has 13 Premier League goals this term, Lampard said: "Yes, yes; and we have the players there to do that.
"I hope he's not (out for several weeks) but then if he is, then yes we do have the players."
Chelsea boss Lampard refused to dampen down links to want-away Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani on Monday, and injury to Abraham could increase the Blues' need to recruit a striker in the January window.
Olivier Giroud wants to join Inter Milan to link back up with ex-Blues boss Antonio Conte, while Chelsea also have Michy Batshuayi as their other frontline striker.
Lampard reiterated Chelsea are more likely to look at loan deals than permanent transfers this month, as he plots his long-term strategy at the club.
"I know and I feel where we need strengthening," said Lampard.
"It's not going to be just January, this is more of a short-term window for us.
"This season has given us some answers on the pitch in where we need to improve. But that's not so much for this window."
Lamenting his side's inability to seal victory against Arsenal's 10 men, Lampard added: "At that point when you go 2-1 up, you've got to get the basics right.
"The second goal was soft, it's soft for a right-back to cut inside and roll it into the far corner. We have to be honest about that."
A look at England strikers in the treatment room
The full extent of the damage to Abraham's ankle is yet to be assessed, but it is of course another worrying blow for England boss Gareth Southgate, with Tottenham's Harry Kane and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford also sidelined.
Southgate's attacking resources have been seriously depleted with the Euro 2020 finals less than five months away - here, the PA news agency takes a look at the men in the treatment room.
Tammy Abraham
Abraham's senior England career remains in its infancy with just four caps and a single goal to his name, but his form for Chelsea so far this season has seen him rise significantly in the pecking order.
The 22-year-old's 15 goals for the club to date, as well as his first for his country in a 7-0 qualifier demolition of Montenegro in November, have established him as a genuine option for Southgate and both he and Blues boss Frank Lampard will hope there is no lasting damage from his midweek collision with an advertising hoarding.
Harry Kane
Kane's importance to England is undeniable with the captain having scored 32 times in just 45 appearances to leave himself behind only Wayne Rooney, Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Jimmy Greaves and Michael Owen in the all-time list at the age of 26.
He is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured hamstring tendon earlier this month, and there are fears that he will not be fit in time to play a part in this summer's finals.
Marcus Rashford
Having scored on his debut in a friendly victory over Australia as an 18-year-old, Rashford has cemented his place in Southgate's youthful squad.
Now 22, he has 38 caps and 10 goals - including one in each of his last three appearances - under his belt.
The United man is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his back which is likely to sideline him for at least three months, and Southgate will be keeping his fingers crossed that his absence is limited to the lower end of that prognosis.
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