Christian Pulisic is expected to return from his abductor injury in the middle of February, according to Frank Lampard.
The Chelsea head coach has pinpointed the week-long break as a target for the United States forward to come back from the injury he sustained before the recent FA Cup win at home to Nottingham Forest.
On Thursday Pulisic, speaking to US media, had said that he would only be out for a couple of weeks.
However, speaking at his press conference to preview tomorrow evening's Premier League game away to Newcastle United, Lampard was asked if the injury is healing quicker than expected.
"No, but I don’t know what kind of rate expecting?" the head coach said.
Asked if Pulisic is still a couple of weeks from returning, Lampard added: "Yes, we’d like to think so which goes towards the break for us in February, which might fall at a nice time as it will give us time to play with.
"Hopefully he will be back on the other side of that break. It is kind of in line with how we expected to be.”
Pulisic, who has contributed to the second most goals for Chelsea this season after Tammy Abraham, had told ESPN: "It's been almost a week, and I'm just kind of taking it day by day.
"I'm just rehabbing every day. I'm doing my best to be back in the next week, the next couple weeks.
"I don't think it should be too long, so I'm just working every day, doing everything I can to be back on the pitch."
