Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard has revealed why Noni Madueke was not involved for Chelsea in their 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
The former PSV Eindhoven wonderkid was not selected in the squad for the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid because he has not been registered for the competition.
Madueke was not called up for Lampard’s first game in charge on his return to Chelsea, against Wolverhampton Wanderers a week ago.
Lampard tried to freshen things up in Saturday’s match against Brighton & Hove, bringing in six players into the starting lineup but there was no place for the Anglo-Nigerian winger.
The former Chelsea man opted to start Christian Pulisic and Mykhailo Mudryk, with João Félix and Hakim Ziyech among the substitutes.
Speaking at the press conference after the game, Lampard confirmed that Madueke is currently out of favour, hence his omission from the squad list to face the Seagulls.
Asked to provide a fitness update on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Madueke, Lampard was quoted as saying: “Ruben – back. Madueke, out of the squad”.
Brought to sort out the mess at Chelsea, Lampard has lost his first three matches since his appointment as caretaker coach.
