Lampard targets Villa return as Benayoun faces months out

Chelsea have finally received some good news on the injury front as Frank Lampard has revealed that he should be fit to return to action in their next Premier League game away at Aston Villa.

On the day it was announced that Yossi Benayoun faces several months on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Carlo Ancelotti learned that as one midfielder was set for a spell out injured, another was preparing to return to action.

A hernia problem has caused Lampard to miss a rare seven games for Chelsea, but after undergoing surgery he has vowed to work hard over the international break to return as quickly as possible.

The news may not be met with too bigger cheers at Villa, as Lampard scored five goals in three meetings with them last season, including four in the league encounter at Stamford Bridge.

However, his scoring record in away Premier League games at Villa Park since moving to Chelsea is distinctly average, with just one goal in ten visits and this came on his first trip in 2002.

Lampard has been one of Chelsea’s key goal contributors in recent seasons, but the team do not seem to have missed him too badly recently.

Chelsea still lead the way at the top of the table by four points and are 4/7 to win the Premier League.

Summer signing Ramires has taken over from Lampard and settled into the middle of the midfield alongside John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien.

The one dilemma that will face Ancelotti is whether to simply swap Lampard back in for Ramires or leave out Mikel and drop Essien back into the holding midfield position.

Aston Villa are still unbeaten at Villa Park under Gerard Houllier and are 350/1 to win the Premier League this season. See the complete Premier League winners betting odds market.