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Alan Smith

Five things spotted in Chelsea training as Frank Lampard gets injury boost

Chelsea are back in contact training ahead of the Premier League's planned resumption on June 17 and although all sessions are held behind closed doors images published by the club's in-house media team have provided some interesting insights.

Frank Lampard is clearly animated in several of the images as his team, who are clinging on to fourth position in the table before the resumption with nine games to play, try to pick up some sharpness following almost three months of inactivity.

There were also some other lighter things to note from the sessions and here is what football.london spotted...

Alan Smith answers Chelsea questions

Positive injury news

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic looked comfortable getting stuck in as they take another step towards respective returns from injury.

The England midfielder has not played for the first team since rupturing his achilles at the end of last season, while American forward Pulisic has not featured since the New Year's Day draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Both will be eligible for selection for the first game back in less than three weeks and were seen in duels with Kurt Zouma and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Hair: there, everywhere

While some players have done a good job at keeping their barnets in check with barber shops shut, others have returned with some catching new looks.

Among the most striking was Kepa Arrizabalaga's flowing mane and extra layers for Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount and Pulisic rather than skin fade back and sides.

There are a couple of lockdown beards on show, too, with Jorginho and Ross Barkley both sporting plenty of facial hair.

Batshuayi gets stuck in

It could be a big end to the campaign for Michy Batshuayi as the Belgian forward looks to prove his long-term worth with doubts over his future.

Kurt Zouma and Michy Batshuayi during a contact training session at Cobham (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Going into the break he was third choice forward behind Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud but was seen sliding in (maybe a little late?) on Jorginho during today's session.

A sign of a renewed intensity as he stakes a claim for a bigger role during the run-in, perhaps?

Kante absence continues

Having been granted compassionate leave during phase one training, N'Golo Kante has returned to Cobham but is working out alone rather than with his team-mates.

There was no sign of him in the action shots released from today but the message remains the same: the French star will be welcomed back only when he feels ready and there is no pressure to return for as long as he holds health and safety concerns.

And finally ... Rudiger too cool for Surrey sunshine

It has been rather warm in Surrey for the past couple of weeks with temperatures hitting 26c today.

While most players were sweating profusely in short sleeves and shorts, Toni Rudiger was still in a pair of tights.

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