LAMPARD ON HIS WAY TO WEMBLEY - CLARKE

Chelsea expect Frank Lampard to be in contention for Sunday's FA Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley.

The England midfielder had been reported to be playing through the pain barrier with a broken toe, sustained while on the pre-season tour of the United States.

However, on Thursday the club moved to dismiss suggestions the 29-year-old was under orders to rest ahead of the new campaign, which kicks off at home to Birmingham on August 12.

Assistant manager Steve Clarke maintained Lampard - yet to sign a new deal - would be central to the Blues plans for the traditional curtain-raiser against the Barclays Premier League champions.

"Frank is fine for Sunday," insisted Clarke.

"He has not missed a training session, he has not missed a match and is a great character.

"He has got a small problem with his toe and it is a little bit uncomfortable.

"But when you think the injury was caused four weeks ago and he has not missed a session or a game since, that tells you it is not a major injury."

United finally broke Chelsea's grip on the Premier League title last season but Sunday's encounter is likely to have little significance on the outcome of this season's title race.

Clarke insisted: "It will not have any bearing on the season. It is still a pre-season match, and the season starts with the Premier League.

"But when you play someone like Manchester United, one of our main rivals for all the major trophies next season, obviously it gives the match some extra meaning.

"We want to win it, and I am sure they want to as well."

Chelsea may have surrendered their league title to United but they still hold bragging rights following the FA Cup final victory in May.

Clarke hinted the Blues are going to be "a bit more expansive this year", having drawn some criticism for supposedly stifling United in their last encounter.

"The 4-4-2 system with wingers is one we have not used before. We have worked on it extensively in pre-season, and the 4-3-3 system we know inside out. It will all give us good options," he said.

"We want to be a bit more expansive this year, and the wingers can give us that something different."

Whether or not Real Madrid target Arjen Robben will be part of that new system remains to be seen.

However, Clarke insisted until he was informed to the contrary, the Dutch wideman remained very much a part of the first-team plans.

"Arjen trained in one of the sessions yesterday and he did very well," said Clarke.

"He is coming on, and I expect to have him here. No-one has told me anything to the contrary."

The Chelsea assistant coach, who has agreed a new three-year deal, firmly believes things are coming together ahead of the battle for domestic and European honours.

Steve Sidwell, Florent Malouda, Claudio Pizarro and Tal Ben Haim have all arrived over the summer.

"The club and the team are in great shape," he said.

"We have worked hard over the four weeks and have had some great training sessions, with some difficult matches.

"We have learned a lot about the players and the squad, and are setting ourselves up nicely for the season."

Clarke expects the Premier League race to be a keenly-contested affair again - and not just by the top two.

"United have to defend the trophy, and we are now the team which is chasing them. We will enjoy the chase," he said.

"They have strengthened their squad and we have strengthened ours, and we look forward to a good battle with them.

"However, it will not only be with United - Liverpool have strengthened also and Arsenal are a good team, Tottenham are looking strong.

"I think the league will be competitive next year."

Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Alex remains in talks with Chelsea after he gained a work permit and will return to Britain to discuss a transfer from PSV Eindhoven.

Taken from =football365=