Frank Lampard Admits Christian Pulisic Could Miss Start of 2020/21 Season

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has revealed that Christian Pulisic will be sidelined for six weeks after a suffering a hamstring injury against Arsenal in the FA Cup final, meaning he will miss the start of the 2020/21 season.

Pulisic had been in dazzling form since football restarted in June, and opened the scoring at Wembley with a typically composed finish.

However, he was forced off in the second half after pulling up with a hamstring injury, and Chelsea went on to lose 2-1.

Speaking about the length of Pulisic's absence, Lampard said [via the Daily Mail]: "Six weeks, I think so. We have to treat the injury right. I think it's going to be touch and go for the start of the season.

"So we'll get him fit, and get him ready. If he misses the first one or two games of the season, then we'll have a firing Christian hopefully as hungry as he looked for the restart."

The American was sidelined for two months due to a muscle injury sustained in January, but finished the season with 11 goals and 10 assists from 34 appearances in all competitions, and Lampard insisted Pulisic can take heart from his maiden campaign in English football.

"In the big scheme of things with Christian, when he reflects on his first season, the improvement levels coming here when you think of the goals and assists he's had this year, it's the best of his career," the Chelsea boss added.

"And that's his first year in the Premier League. From where he's gone at the start to how he's ended up and how he has played in restart, he should be very happy, and that's down to his work."

Teammate Cesar Azpilicueta also sustained a hamstring injury against Arsenal but is in contention to return against Bayern Munich on Saturday evening, while N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also back to full fitness.