Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has a torn right thigh muscle and will be out "for a few weeks", according to the club.
Lampard limped out of the Blues' 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Boxing Day during the first half and underwent a scan on Thursday which revealed the extent of the injury.
A statement released by Chelsea read: "Scans today have revealed a tear in Frank Lampard's right thigh.
"The tear is not in the same leg that Frank injured earlier this season.
"He will begin his rehabilitation immediately and we hope to have him back playing within a few weeks.''
His absence will be another blow to Chelsea's faltering title bid.
They are already without skipper John Terry and striker Didier Drogba due to injury, while Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho are due to serve supsensions following red cards against Villa.
Portuguese defender Carvalho is now set to miss league appointments with Newcastle and Fulham and an FA Cup tie against QPR, while Cole will miss Saturday's clash with the Magpies if his appeal is unsuccessful.
On top of that, boss Avram Grant is due to lose four players - Drogba, Mikel John Obi, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou - next month to African Nations Cup duty.
Before the news on Lampard's injury broke, Grant had already admitted he would need to add to his squad during the January transfer window.
He told the Daily Express: "I was hoping to use the transfer window but now, because of the suspensions and injuries, as well as the African Cup, I must think about using it more."
Source : www.sportinglife.com
