Frank Lampard is considering turning Ruben Loftus-Cheek into a front man when he returns from injury.
Chelsea academy graduate Loftus-Cheek has been out of action since rupturing his Achilles during the Blues' end of season friendly with New England Revolution.
The injury forced him to sit out of the Europa League final along with the west Londoners' pre-season tours.
Loftus-Cheek is currently in the gym with fellow injured Blues stars Reece James, Marco van Ginkel and Jamal Blackman, with a return date expected to be around November.
And when he does make his comeback to the first-team fold, Lampard is aiming to move him further forward from his usual midfield position.
According to the Sun, the 23-year-old will be utilised as a striker with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pedro flanking him on either side.
Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud have been started as a lone attackers in the opening two Premier League fixtures of the season.
But neither have found the net as the Blues suffered a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United and a 1-1 draw with Leicester , with Mason Mount bagging.
Loftus-Cheek has previously been tried out as a forward by Antonio Conte amd has netted 14 professional goals for the Blues and while on loan at Crystal Palace .
Meanwhile, Hudson-Odoi returned to first-team training earlier this week after his Achilles tendon injury.
And Lampard is positive he will be ready for action in the next couple of weeks.
“He is getting closer, he has trained over the last week or two with the Under-23s, there is going to be a period of conditioning work for him," Lampard said last week.
“The injury looks good which is great news.
“Then he is going to have to be fitter than he has ever been because I want him to run.”
