Pedro is part of my plans at Chelsea, insists Lampard

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says selling Pedro is not an option for him  in spite of the forward's lack of playing time. The 32-year-old Spaniard has made just five Premier League appearances this season and, with his contract expiring in June, has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. But Lampard, whose side host Burnley later this afternoon, said he wants the former Barcelona player to stay.

Pedro is part of our plans at Chelsea - Lampard

"He is part of my plans and I started the season and Pedro was in the team and unfortunately he got injured at Norwich before the game and I had to make a change to the starting line-up," he told a news conference on Friday. "He was out for a while and I do have competition in that area so Peds has had some games here and there. I know he wants more games but he certainly has something he can contribute to us here in his experience and his ability to break lines and run behind people and maybe got those goals in and around the box. He's here, I know his contract is up at the end of the season but I'm not even looking that far ahead, he's here and I need everybody because football can change very quickly. There can be a period of games where you're on the bench, out of the squad, something changes and then that's the moment when you have to come in and produce and I've got no winners in this game, I want the club to be the winner. People come in and do well, they'll stay in the team."

Chelsea sitting comfortably in fourth

Chelsea go into this afternoon's game fourth in the table – four points clear of fifth-placed Sheffield United and eight points behind Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in third.