Christian Pulisic will not return to the squad for Saturday’s game against Sheffield United. That was the big news to come out of Frank Lampard’s media conference held via video link from Cobham on Friday afternoon.

The boss also updated on Kepa Arrizabalaga who has been missing with a shoulder problem and on Kai Havertz, who is isolating due to Covid-19, but the first update was on the American.

Pulisic pulled out of the warm-up last weekend at Burnley due to hamstring discomfort. ‘He is not fit to play,’ reported Lampard. ‘He is still suffering with his hamstring and he is not training.

 ‘In midweek he was training at a low level but was not comfortable so we have to keep looking for the right solution.

‘Kepa has recovered. He still is getting a slight bit of pain but he is in the squad for tomorrow.’ 

Lampard was questioned on whether Havertz might be passed clear to play in Germany’s games in the forthcoming international break. ‘I don’t that,’ he responded. ‘With Kai, we must wait until he is symptom-free first of all and then he will have to have a negative test, so at the moment that is not decided, that is not clear.’