Lampard keen to give Werner a rest

Frank Lampard has reiterated that he is keen to give Timo Werner a rest.

The Blues boss named Werner as a substitute for last weekend’s win at Burnley but then had to include him in the starting line-up after Christian Pulisic suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up.

Werner has been in great form for the Blues but Lampard, whose side face Sheffield United on Saturday, wants to avoid overburdening him.

“I think it was clear at the Burnley game I was planning on giving him a rest,” Lampard said.

“Timo has played a lot of games. But there’s always a balance in my job, with players that are playing well and enjoying it.

“I’m not talking about tomorrow, necessarily, but as we move forward I will try to manage those minutes and keep him as fresh as we can.

“But at the minute he’s going well, so we’ll see.”

Pulisic, meanwhile, will remain sidelined for the Sheffield United game and has not been able to return to training.

But keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is back in the squad after a shoulder problem.