Chelsea lynchpin Frank Lampard is on course to return to face Manchester United

Frank Lampard has targeted Chelsea's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United on December 19 for his return to action. He has not played since suffering a groin injury in August and a planned comeback last month was cancelled when he injured an adductor muscle in training. On the comeback trail: LampardThe England midfielder has been training on his own but manager CarloAncelotti hopes he will rejoin the first team this week.John Terry is in contention for a return against Everton at the weekend, despite continuing to suffer from a nerve problem in his thigh. Michael Essien also returns after a three-match ban.Terry's centre-back partner Alex will be out for six to eight weeks, however, after travelling to Brazil to have keyhole surgery to clean out his knee. Gael Kakuta remains a target for Bayern Munich and AC Milan. He is out of contract in the summer and is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club next month, although negotiations over a new deal are continuing. Meanwhile, Chelsea have put down a marker in the chase for Lille's 19-year-old winger Eden Hazard. They could land him next summer after he agreed to stay with the French club this season. He is also wanted by Liverpool and Real Madrid, but the player is a big fan of Arsenal's style of play. Wilkins seals pay-off from Chelsea after being sacked as Ancelotti's No 2Chelsea pip Arsenal and Liverpool withfirst approach for Lille starlet HazardCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail