Frank Lampard says he cannot factor players’ international careers into his team selections at Chelsea, after France manager Didier Deschamps called for Olivier Giroud to be given more game time at Stamford Bridge.
Giroud and Michy Batshuayi have both been playing backup to the less experienced Tammy Abraham in Lampard’s Premier League teams this season, but it was Batshuayi who got the nod in the Carabao Cup this week.
The 22-year-old Abraham has grasped his opportunity with nine goals in 15 outings and Batshuayi has seven in nine, but the elder statesman of the trio Giroud has just one goal to his name from six appearances – only two of which have lasted more than half an hour.