Chelsea 'will win the league' predicts Frank Lampard

“I have no doubt we will win the league,” the 32-year-old midfielder said in the wake of his return to action against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after almost four months out with a series of injuries.

Lampard said that Chelsea needed to continue to show the same “spirit” as had been demonstrated at White Hart Lane and hoped that the 1-1 draw — which could so easily have been a victory – would act as a staging post for a season that was beginning to unravel.

“We have got the quality in our team,” Lampard said. “Injuries have been tough on us and some months tough on us. But with the spirit and ability we have got in our team if we play like that, I have confidence we can do it.

“It is very tough. We will have to fight on a few fronts. Man City are there now, Arsenal, Man United, as we know. Teams like Tottenham are pushing from behind. So we have to be at our best, but if we are at our best I think we can win it.”

Lampard was a surprise substitute against Spurs. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had planned to field him in a practice match on Thursday — and will still do – before starting the player against Manchester United on Sunday. But, after a discussion on Saturday afternoon, it was decided Lampard, who has been debilitated by a groin injury and then a detached tendon, could be on the bench against Spurs.

Not that he was able to take up his usual penalty duties, deferring to Didier Drogba for the injury-time spot kick that the striker missed.

“It’s a difficult one, having been probably not playing two days ago to me playing and training for two days,” Lampard said. “I haven’t practised a penalty in three months. I thought it would have been wrong for me to come on and try and take personal glory on my return, rather than let Didi take it, who has been practising and scoring. I gave that to Didi. We can all miss them and credit to Didi for stepping up.”

Meanwhile, Florent Malouda is the latest Chelsea player to admit that the loss of former assistant manager Ray Wilkins was a “big strain”. “Ray was close to the players and in training he was involved in the animation of the sessions,” he said.

The France international added that Ancelotti was trying to “keep everybody calm” at Chelsea after the recent run of poor form. “He is trying to bring back serenity at the club because we are not used to these kind of results,” Malouda said.

After meeting Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last Thursday, when he was reassured of his future, Ancelotti is now more content at the club but that has not prevented fresh reports emanating from Italy. Roma remain keen on recruiting him in the summer should Claudio Ranieri be sacked.