Chelsea boss confirms double injury boost for Brighton trip

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta are available for selection for the Premier League opener at Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.

The duo picked up hamstring injuries during the FA Cup final against Arsenal last month and Lampard initially predicted that Pulisic could miss the beginning of next season.

However, both players have managed to make quick recoveries and they are now in contention to make the matchday squad for the season's curtain-raiser against Graham Potter's side.

"I am certainly very happy to have them both back. They have trained since yesterday and are in contention for Monday. The way they are training and the attitudes they have looks like they are over their injuries. We'll have to manage it," Lampard told via Chelsea's official website.

The Blues have made six major signings in Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz this summer and a couple of them are expected to make their debuts on Monday.

Werner and Havertz will feature against the Seagulls, but Ziyech, Chilwell and Silva are unavailable. Sarr, meanwhile, is expected to be loaned out for the 2020/21 season to earn more first-team experience.