Benitez: Lampard, Terry still out

Rafael Benitez says John Terry and Frank Lampard will not return to Chelsea action in the Champions League match with FC Nordsjaelland.

The pair have been sidelined for several weeks and are yet to play under the Spaniard following his appointment as Chelsea’s interim manager on November 22.

Lampard returned to full training on Tuesday as he recovers from a calf injury, while Terry has been out due to a knee problem, with neither veterans due to be risked in the Champions League game.

Benitez told reporters: “Tomorrow’s game is still too early for John Terry and Frank Lampard.”

To progress from Group E, Chelsea need to beat Nordsjaelland and hope Shakhtar Donetsk defeat Juventus in their match at the Donbass Arena.

“We cannot be worrying about the other game tomorrow, we have to focus on winning our own game,” Benitez said.

“The main thing for us is to win. Torres is an important player for us, but we need goals from other players too. I am confident we’ll do well tomorrow. The players know we have to win, and win well tomorrow, we are ready.”

Benitez is determined to bounce back from a 3-1 English Premier League defeat at West Ham on Saturday, and feels there were encouraging signs on the pitch despite the loss.

“We have to analyse what happened in the second half on Saturday, and provide a solution to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

“There are a lot of positives to take from Saturday’s game. The players are working really hard, and training very well. Every training session the commitment is there, players want to win and they are working hard to perform.”