Jose Mourinho says he won't risk Frank Lampard in Asia

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Chelsea Football Club's all time highest goalscorer will not be risked by Jose Mourinho in the pre-season after he was pulled out of the starting line up against Singha All Stars and replaced with Ramires. Lampard had strapping and ice on his right ankle due to an Achilles injury.

The Blues take on a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, but Mourinho is taking a longer term view and is not prepared to take any chances of the 35-year-old exacerbating the problem.

Chelsea then travel to Jakarta to take on a BNI Indonesia All-Stars select and return to the United States at the beginning of next month to play Inter Milan, AC Milan/Valencia and Roma.

"I don't want to risk," Mourinho said. "It is such a long pre-season we don't need to risk, especially on these pitches, which are not the best quality pitches. If on Sunday he is not 100 per cent, I am not risking him.

"He is an important player for us."

Mourinho looks certain to wrap footballing legend, Frank Lampard, in cotton wool ahead of Mourinho's return to Premier League as the Blues host newly promoted Hull City on August 18.

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Not worth risking Frank IMO. He's an experienced player so it's more important that he gets rest during this pre-season since he's not a young player who needs to prove himself during pre-season or is trying to impress the manager etc.

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last thing you want in preseason is an injury. Luckily we have a great medical team.