( AFP ) - Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be out of action for several weeks after scans revealed he has suffered a torn thigh muscle.
Lampard, 29, sustained the injury in the first half of his side's 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The England midfielder is likely to be back in late January but his absence is another blow for Chelsea manager Avram Grant, who is already without John Terry, Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.
"Scans have revealed a tear in Frank Lampard's right thigh," a Chelsea statement confirmed. "The tear is not in the same leg that Frank injured earlier this season.
"He will begin his rehabilitation immediately and we hope to have him back playing within a few weeks."
On top of those injuries, Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou are set to miss a month's action on African Nations Cup duty in the New Year.
Grant had already been weighing up potential signings and he admits he will definitely have to move into the transfer market to bolster a severely-depleted squad.
"I was hoping to use the transfer window but now, because of the suspensions and injuries, as well as the African Cup, I must think about using it more," Grant said.