Chelsea
manager Frank Lampard has joined the growing calls for the Premier League to
allow five substitutes in its matches once again.
The English top flight is the only major competition in Europe which opted
to return to three at the start of the 2020/21 campaign, after five were
allowed when last season resumed from the first lockdown.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola
have both been particularly critical of the decision amid a significant rise
in the number of injuries so far this season.
English Football League clubs voted to adopt the five substitutes rule with
immediate effect on Thursday.
Lampard, whose side are one of seven Premier League clubs competing in
Europe, is concerned about the physical and emotional toll players are being
placed under ahead of domestic football resuming following the international
break.
"I think it is something we have to address again with the clubs. The
circumstances have not changed since we had five subs at the start of
restart," said Lampard, who also offered an explanation why some managers
have not made all their allocated substitutes in games.
"The reason that maybe managers aren't making three subs is because if you
have 10 players fearful of tiredness, there is a danger zone to make a third
substitute in case of an injury.
"My main concern is player welfare, they are under incredible stress,
especially those playing in Europe.
"I don't want anyone to cry their eyes out for players, we all know how
lucky we are, but everywhere else has five subs so we have to revisit this
in my opinion."
Lampard confirmed he will be without Christian Pulisic again through injury
for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime, with Thiago Silva deemed
unlikely to travel to St James' Park.
Kai Havertz is back in training following his period of quarantine after he
tested positive for coronavirus earlier this month, while Lampard said he
would make an assessment on Ben Chilwell.
Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith earlier insisted he needed more evidence
to prove player welfare is at risk before he backs the reintroduction of
five substitutions in the Premier League.
Smith, who has seen Jack Grealish and John McGinn each play three times in a
week for England and Scotland respectively, has not witnessed an impact on
his players.
"We had a meeting yesterday and we spoke at length about each manager's
individual feelings," he said.
"I can only go from my football club, and if player welfare becomes an issue
then it's a no-brainer and you have to increase substitutions or look at the
fixture scheduling.
"At the moment, I'm not seeing any trends from my players that suggest
player welfare is an issue.
"I speak to my players all the time - I want the best for them and I want to
look after them. That's what we're doing."
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