Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has confirmed he has overcome a knee problem and will be fit for Saturday's FA Cup final against Everton. The England international had been struggling with the complaint during the week but has returned to training ahead of Wembley's showpiece.
Lampard is eagerly anticipating the encounter, which will be manager Guus Hiddink's last game in charge, as the Blues look to lift their first silverware since 2007.
"Yes, I am fit. I have just had a bit of a niggle with my knee but I feel fit and ready to go," said Lampard. "I think it is always hard to call cup finals. Everton are a very disciplined team and work hard to stop you playing.
"We will try and play our usual football, we have been playing very well lately. But who knows how the game is going to pan out?
"FA Cups are always huge events, especially against a team like Everton. The occasion, the fans, the worldwide stage - it is always a huge game."
Meanwhile, Everton's own goalscoring midfielder Tim Cahill has been described as the club's "new Alan Ball" by chairman Bill Kenwright.
To be compared with the World Cup winner and one of Everton's finest-ever players is praise indeed.
Cahill has been used as an emergency striker for much of the season and could well find himself in that role again as boss David Moyes considers the best way to unsettle Chelsea's defence.
Kenwright believes Cahill has been a major influence on Everton's success this season, which also included a fifth-placed finish in the Barclays Premier League.
"The first game David and me went to see to look at a player, was Millwall's play-off game with Birmingham. We actually went to watch a centre-back,” said Kenwright.
"But after half an hour, David looked at me and said had I noticed that black-haired lad going from box to box like no one we had ever seen before.
"We then watched Tim Cahill for the next hour. He was just mesmeric.
"I recall him coming into my office once to just tell me how much he wanted to play for Everton.
"That was a great thrill for me. He is the prince of footballers, he is the new Alan Ball.
"He has the true spirit of Everton, the one who epitomises the never-say-die attitude of the whole squad."
Cahill played under Hiddink when the latter was manager of Australia and has nothing but praise for the Dutchman.
"The calibre and stature of the man speaks for itself, I'm very thankful for what he did for us in the World Cup," said Cahill. "He is honest and stamps his authority. None of his players get a chance to overpower him and you never know if you are going to be in the team or not."
Moyes was not so gracious when asked of his opposite number, arguing the manager has a lot to work with.
"Hiddink has done a terrific job wherever he's been. And now he has come in and done a great job at Chelsea in a short time,” said the Scot. "But let's be fair, Chelsea's players are good players and I think a lot of people could have taken on the Chelsea job and done a good job."
