• Premier League

Benitez: Chelsea miss Lampard and Terry

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has admitted that the team have missed John Terry and Frank Lampard recently.

Since Benitez took over at the club he has been unable to select the English duo, with both currently out on the sidelines injured.

Benitez's Chelsea have struggled in the pair's absence, with the Spaniard still looking for his first win and goal since taking over, while results for the club in general have been unimpressive over the last month.

The former Liverpool boss concedes performances have not been up to scratch of late and he says he is eagerly awaiting the return of Terry and Lampard.

"You can see that over the last month the team have not been performing at the right level," Benitez said. "And you can see that these players have good leadership and can help people. They will be important for us on the pitch."

Benitez's praise of Lampard comes just a week after he revealed the midfielder was set to leave the club at the end of the season. While the Chelsea boss is looking forward to having the experienced heads back in his team, he is still unsure as to when exactly they will be fit enough to make their comebacks.

"Lampard was part of the training session today," Benitez said. "That's it, nothing else. Terry is working hard with the physios. He is ready to play for him, but we know he is not ready."

Elsewhere, Benitez has played down the talk of somebody from outside the club being brought in to help improve the form of Fernando Torres, after former Olympic sprinting champion Darren Campbell stated that he would be able to "fix" the striker.

"We're always interested to hear different ideas and different visions. But there is a big difference between just running and to run with the ball on the pitch, 11 against 11."

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