COBHAM, England, Aug 3 (Reuters) Chelsea's Frank Lampard was declared fit today to face Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday even though he has a toe injury.
Lampard injured the toe during Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US last month but Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke said the England midfielder will play through the pain against United.
''He's fine for Sunday. He hasn't missed a training session, he hasn't missed a match. He has a small problem in his toe but when you think the injury happened four weeks ago it's not a major injury,'' Clarke said.
''It's a little bit uncomfortable for him but he's a great character and he's played every match he's been asked to play,'' Clarke told reporters.
Clarke revealed that a string of other injured players had returned to action, including Michael Essien, Claude Makelele and Arjen Robben, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
''Wayne Bridge, Michael Ballack and Salomon Kalou are out but everyone else is in contention,'' Clarke said at Chelsea's training grounds southwest of London.
''Robben trained yesterday and I have to say he trained very, very well. He's coming on.'' When asked if he expected Robben to still be at Chelsea next week, Clarke said: ''Yes, I expect to have him here. I expect that of course. No-one has told me anything to the contrary.'' After Chelsea lost out to United in the league last season but gained a measure of revenge by winning the FA Cup final 1-0, Clarke believes the Community Shield will have an extra edge.
''If you are asking will it have any bearing on the season I don't think it will. It's still a pre-season match, the season starts with the Premier League.
''But when you play someone like Man United, one of our main rivals for all the trophies, it gives the match an extra meaning. We want to win it and I'm sure they want to win it as well.'' REUTERS RS KP2218
Lampard injured the toe during Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US last month but Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke said the England midfielder will play through the pain against United.
''He's fine for Sunday. He hasn't missed a training session, he hasn't missed a match. He has a small problem in his toe but when you think the injury happened four weeks ago it's not a major injury,'' Clarke said.
''It's a little bit uncomfortable for him but he's a great character and he's played every match he's been asked to play,'' Clarke told reporters.
Clarke revealed that a string of other injured players had returned to action, including Michael Essien, Claude Makelele and Arjen Robben, who has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
''Wayne Bridge, Michael Ballack and Salomon Kalou are out but everyone else is in contention,'' Clarke said at Chelsea's training grounds southwest of London.
''Robben trained yesterday and I have to say he trained very, very well. He's coming on.'' When asked if he expected Robben to still be at Chelsea next week, Clarke said: ''Yes, I expect to have him here. I expect that of course. No-one has told me anything to the contrary.'' After Chelsea lost out to United in the league last season but gained a measure of revenge by winning the FA Cup final 1-0, Clarke believes the Community Shield will have an extra edge.
''If you are asking will it have any bearing on the season I don't think it will. It's still a pre-season match, the season starts with the Premier League.
''But when you play someone like Man United, one of our main rivals for all the trophies, it gives the match an extra meaning. We want to win it and I'm sure they want to win it as well.'' REUTERS RS KP2218
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