Former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen admits he'd be "astonished" to see Petr Cech play for Chelsea this season but admits it is a possibility after the club's technical and performance adviser was a surprise inclusion in the Blues' Premier League squad.
Cech is one of four goalkeepers named by Frank Lampard for the current campaign with Chelsea stating the 38-year-old's presence is due to "emergency cover" due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he remains a "non-contract player".
Cech retired in 2019 and has been serving as the club's technical director since, however goalkeeper is an area of concern for Chelsea with Kepa's struggles leaving just Willy Caballero as back-up to summer arrival Edouard Mendy.
Kepa was dropped to the bench for Chelsea's Champions League tie against Sevilla with Mendy given the gloves for his third appearance since arriving in September from Rennes.
Mendy is expected to be Lampard's new No1, following the Basque's poor start to the season, pushing the £71.6m signing into third-choice but with the frenetic nature of the 2020/21 season, injuries could strike opening up a surprise opportunity for Cech.
There is is also the very real possibility that Kepa could be sold or loaned out in the January transfer window.
"He's obviously had Frank's ear, hasn't he?," Owen said on BT Sport.
"He's got three very good goalkeepers ahead of him. You never know what could happen here, it might be that a goalkeeper leaves at some point, maybe in the next transfer window.
"Quite amazed that he's put himself back in the squad, I'll be astonished to see him play."
Cech's last game was the Europa League final for Arsenal against Chelsea on May 29, 2019 having moved from west to north London in 2014 after a decorated spell for the Blues.
Over the course of his 11 years at Chelsea, Cech won 15 trophies and kept 228 clean sheets, many of which achieved alongside Lampard in the Blues XI.
