Kepa Arrizabalaga believes he WILL be back as Chelsea’s No1 vs Man Utd after talks with boss Frank Lampard

KEPA believes he will be back in action for Chelsea next week following talks with boss Frank Lampard.

Chelsea’s keeper is now convinced that being dropped by Lampard was a simple wake-up call and that he will return against Manchester United.

The pair discussed the situation while training during the club’s recent winter break - which ends on Monday with the visit of Man Utd to Stamford Bridge.

The world’s most expensive goalkeeper is eager to put the bad spell behind him and knuckle down as Chelsea resume the push for a top four finish.

Kepa, 25, was stunned to be axed in favour of number two Willy Caballero for the trip to Leicester in the last game even though Lampard had warned the £71.6 million Spaniard that performances weren’t up to scratch.

Understudy Caballero was blamed for Leicester’s second goal which has also boosted Kepa’s claim on a comeback.

Chelsea have seen their lead in fourth place whittled down to just two points while the club has been mothballed during a two week lay off.

Lampard believes his team’s major weakness is scoring goals but he is also just as hard on his keepers’ ability to deny the opposition.

Kepa feared he was being blamed for the team’s overall defensive weakness but now wants to move on and cement his place back in the first team.

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He is also mindful of restoring his manager’s trust to play regularly in the run up to Euro 2020 to remain Spain’s first choice keeper.

An extra incentive is that Spain are playing their group games at the San Mames Stadium - home of Kepa’s former club Atletico Bilbao.

It would be the first time he has returned to his boyhood club since signing for Chelsea in a world record deal in the summer of 2018.