CARSON, Calif. – Frank Lampard trained fully Friday afternoon for New York City FC and could be ready to play when the expansion team meets the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon (3 pm ET; ESPN).
The 37-year-old English legend, who has been limited by injuries to just two games with NYCFC (7-11-7) since arriving last month, missed games last week against D.C. United and on Wednesday at Columbus Crew SC with a quadriceps injury he sustained in training nine days ago.
“Looks pretty good right now. Looks pretty good,” NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis said after NYCFC, who traveled to Southern California following the 2-2 draw with Crew SC, practiced on the Galaxy's training field at StubHub Center. “Participated in the training session today, and look to have him involved tomorrow, and we hope he can make a step forward tomorrow and then another step forward for the match.”
The game against the Galaxy (12-7-7) is a marquee event, with a potent list of superstar Designated Players for each team. If Lampard can play, it will make the first time he and longtime rival Steven Gerrard will face off in a league game outside of England.
“Two of the best midfield players, not just in England, but in the world,” NYCFC striker David Villa, another DP, said in Spanish. “Lampard trained today, he's getting better, joining the team again soon.”
Lampard was not made available to media following the training session.
The former Chelsea star, who spent last season with Manchester City, arrived in New York with a calf injury and didn't make his club debut until Aug. 1, when he came on as a substitute for the final 20 minutes of a 3-2 home loss against Montreal.
He started and played 86 minutes in a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls eight days later, but a quadriceps injury forced him to miss a 3-1 win over D.C. United last Thursday night and Wednesday night's draw in Columbus.
“It's been amazingly frustrating,” Kreis said. “I know it's been frustrating for him – I've spoken to him enough times about it – and all of us know I've been frustrated. We're all frustrated with the situation, but it's part of life in the game, that you get injured. It doesn't matter what your name is or what your experience is, players still get injured.”
Kreis mused how much better NYCFC could be with a healthy Lampard in midfield.
“The obvious [advantage] is what he can provide for us in the matches,” the coach said. “Maybe the one that's not so obvious, that I think is equally as important, or maybe more important, is what he provides us in the training sessions and how he can raise the level of players around him on a day-in, day-out basis and spark some real improvement in our group.”
A capable Lampard would help NYCFC's efforts Sunday, when they take on a streaking Galaxy side that has romped to big wins in their past five MLS home games, outscoring foes 22-4 in the process.
“In my personal opinion,” Villa said, “the Galaxy is the strongest team in the league.”
Kreis agrees.
“It's a huge challenge, absolutely huge challenge,” he said. “There's no doubt in my mind that the Galaxy are the best team in the league right now. They have the points to prove it and the record to prove it and the goals to prove it and everything else, so it's a massive challenge for us.
“But I actually think that my group is ready for it.”
