Lampard set to miss title showdown

CHELSEA look set to go into tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League title showdown against Manchester United without grieving midfielder Frank Lampard, whose mother passed away yesterday.

The Stamford Bridge club have offered Lampard, 29, their full support as he comes to terms with the loss.

The England international missed the recent Premier League games against Wigan and Everton after his 58-year-old mother Pat had been admitted to hospital with pneumonia. He resumed training earlier this week ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Liverpool after his mother had showed signs of improvement, only for her condition to deteriorate rapidly.