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​Outcast Chelsea keeper Kepa returns for Champions League clash

Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will make his first appearance since October in Tuesday's Champions League tie against Krasnodar, says boss Frank Lampard, reports BBC Sport.

The 26 year old Spain international has lost his number one spot to Edouard Mendy this season and sustained a shoulder injury in October.

"Kepa starts," said Lampard.

"It is about attitude and how you play, his situation now is different with Mendy's form.

"But Kepa is training brilliantly well and acting brilliantly and I have no qualms about putting him back in."

Kepa joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £71m, a world record fee for a goalkeeper, but has struggled for consistency.

When asked if he is under any pressure to sell Kepa, Lampard said: "No, there's no pressure. The pressure, and I'm not saying this has been spoken about, is to win games.

"I have to do the right thing game by game of course and Mendy has made himself a permanent fixture at this point."

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Ian Ferris
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Ian Ferris

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