Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta is likely to return to Chelsea in January after he was ruled out for up to five months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Zappacosta’s season-long loan deal at the Serie A side has a break clause that can be activated by them in January. Zappacosta has only made one appearance for Roma since making the move towards the end of the summer window.
The 27-year-old tweeted late on Friday: ‘This time the blow was hard, unexpected! I thank Professor Mariani for the intervention, and all those who have been and will be close to me, are my strength!
The Italian is unlikely to have a future at Chelsea even if he does return to the club with Reece James seen as the long term option in the right-back spot and incumbent Cesar Azpilicueta still only 30 years old.
Zappacosta was sent on loan to Roma after Lampard wanted to clear a path for Reece James into the team.
James made his first start in the Champions League in the 2-1 away victory against Ligue 1 side Lille last Wednesday. The 19-year-old is being eased into action by Lampard after recently recovering from a serious injury he picked up while on international duty with the England U20 side.
Chelsea has gone a different way this season by giving academy graduates like Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, and Fikayo Tomori an opportunity in the first team.
