Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insists Oliver Giroud is 'important' part of his plans and going nowhere

Frank Lampard could deny Olivier Giroud a move to help him secure his place in France’s Euro 2020 plans by saying he wants to keep the striker at Chelsea. Giroud is the second highest scorer in France’s history after recently overtaking Michel Platini, but has only played 36 minutes in the Premier League and 27 minutes in the Champions League this season. After finishing last season as Chelsea’s first-choice striker, he now finds himself third in line behind Tammy Abraham and summer signing Timo Werner, while Kai Havertz has also been used as a false nine. The 34-year-old, who has called his situation “worrying”, said he will have a decision to make in January while his agent Michael Manuello said it was “not fair” that Lampard preferred Abraham. But the Chelsea manager insisted the World Cup winner will still figure at Stamford Bridge. “Oli is very important,” he said. “I want Oli to stay here because he will play. He was a big member of our squad last season. He will always want to play more. “I saw Oli’s agent’s quotes and I thought nothing of them in a bad way. I know Oli very well and we can have a conversation. "He wants to play, when he doesn't play he's an incredible support for the other players. My first thought has to be the strength of our squad. "I will always be honest with Oli but I still think he has a big contribution for us. I have a good relationship with Oli but I am happy to have that conversation with him.” Lampard praised Abraham, who was Chelsea’s 18-goal top scorer last season and who, after losing his place to Giroud, has returned to the side, scored in the last three games and operated as the main striker, with Werner playing on the left. "I am really pleased with him, he is playing really well," Lampard said of Abraham, who scored the second goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday . "In some parts it got forgotten how good he was in the first half of last season. He was a big reason why we finished fourth. "The second half of last season was more difficult for him. We brought in a few players in attacking areas, and the whole point is not only bringing in the quality but to lift others around them. Tammy has shown a brilliant reaction.” Thiago Silva and Havertz return to the squad as Chelsea look for a sixth successive win in Rennes on Tuesday, while Christian Pulisic will remain in London as he could make his comeback against Tottenham on Sunday. Chelsea would book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory, which would enable Lampard to rotate his squad in what he described as a “brutal” December fixture list. “We need to try to win this game and if we can step into the next round then we could rest players, but we still want to win the group,” he said. “But if we get the wrong result it could be very difficult. We go to Sevilla next.” _______________________________________________________________________

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insists Oliver Giroud is 'important' part of his plans and going nowhere

French attacker is frustrated at lack of game time, with Euro finals taking place next year, but Blues boss wants 34-year-old to stay as he is 'a big member of our squad'