The head coach said the new goalkeeper has not trained enough to start at The Hawthorns
The Senegal international completed his £22million move from Rennes on Thursday, signing a five-year deal, but Lampard has ruled out a first start as he has not had enough time to train.
“To start tomorrow is not going to happen,” the head coach said. “He’s had a long week where not really trained. It’s too tight a turnaround to put him in contention to start the game.”
Ziyech and Pulisic are progressing well in training but are not yet capable of playing.
Lampard says Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are fit enough to start tomorrow, but the boss has to take into account the busy schedule with the games coming thick and fast, with us playing next Tuesday and Saturday, and then an international break.
Lampard finishes by saying you need to manage Christian Pulisic carefully so you don't overcook him and leave him susceptible to injury, especially with his explosiveness. He can't wait to have him back soon.
That's all from the boss, more later. #WBACHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 25, 2020
Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are in line to make their Premier League debuts for the club after appearing in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Barnsley at Stamford Bridge.
“I believe they are fit enough to start but I need to take into consideration we play against Tuesday and then the Saturday,” Lampard said. “I’m managing that one. With Ben I’ll be a little more cautious as his injury has been a difficult one.”
‘Commanding’ Thiago Silva impresses Lampard on debut
Having said at the beginning of the week that his players are still in pre-season mode in terms of fitness, Lampard will have been pleased to see several looked much sharper against the Championship side
It seems likely that Kai Havertz, who scored a hat-trick against Barnsley, will remain in the No10 role for the trip to Slaven Bilic’s side, who have recently signed former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Timo Werner will return to the starting line-up but after Tammy Abraham impressed in midweek he could lead the attack with the Germany attacker moved to the left wing.
Billy Gilmour remains a long-term absentee following knee surgery late last season.