• Lampard to miss tonight’s game at the Reebok Stadium
• John Terry travels with squad despite slight back problem

Frank Lampard did not travel with the rest of the Chelsea squad for tonight’s Premier League match at Bolton Wanderers – but John Terry was included in the squad.

Lampard recently returned from a four-month lay-off caused by hernia and groin problems. The 32-year-old picked up a calf injury during training earlier this week, but had still been expected to feature this evening as Chelsea aim to reduce the 10-point gap on leaders Manchester United.

However, given Chelsea face Everton in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime and then Sunderland in the league just three days later, it is believed the decision was taken to give Lampard some extra rest and recovery time.

However, Terry, who had been a doubt with a slight back problem, did make the journey to the north-west, Chelsea confirmed this morning on their website.

The Premier League champions, meanwhile, look to be close to finalising a deal to bring the Brazil centre-half David Luiz to Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old, who would be cup-tied for the Champions League, did not feature in the Benfica squad for the 4-2 victory over Nacional on Saturday ahead of his anticipated move.

As part of the agreement, Chelsea could loan out a young defender to the Portuguese side, with the left-back Patrick van Aanholt or the centre-half Jeffrey Bruma possible candidates.

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• ‘Chelsea is where I could fulfil my ambition’
• Valencia winger says Chelsea can rival Real Madrid and Milan

Spain winger David Silva says “the Premier League is the place to be” – and has set his sights on a move to Chelsea.

The Valencia star, currently on World Cup duty, has been linked with a number of Premier League sides, among them cash-laden Manchester City and cross-town rivals Manchester United. But Silva has implied he would pass up a move to the north-west should west London come calling.

“Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years,” said Silva. “They might not have the history of Real Madrid or Milan but they are creating their own history now. There is no reason why in the future Chelsea can’t be as decorated as Real Madrid.

“Chelsea probably have, along with Barcelona, the best squad in football and if any player joins Chelsea he knows he is going to win things.

“In players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba they have players who would get into any team in the world and it would be a pleasure to play with them,” he told the Daily Star.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for – and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.

“The Premier League is still the place to be, no other league in the world has six or seven Champions League quality teams.”

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