It might have looked like business as usual for Frank Lampard at the weekend as he began his quest for another 20-goal season with a Chelsea's fourth versus West Brom, but it came close to not being so.

Speaking to the club's official channel after the match, the vice-captain gave details of his narrow victory in the race to make the league kick-off and the work that went in to putting him on the Stamford Bridge pitch.

Carlo Ancelotti announced Lampard as a fitness doubt the day before the game. The player had suffered an injury during a light warm-down training session on Thursday morning, having been on England duty the evening before. He was only declared okay to play against the Baggies at 1pm prior to Saturday's early evening game.

'I managed to go right over on my ankle and it blew up like a balloon,' Lampard told Chelsea TV.

'It took a lot of work, a lot of credit to the medical team who are always brilliant and worked round the clock on it. I wanted to take part in the first game and they got me there.'

He outlined his timetable leading up to the game.

'We have easy [training] days generally and you are home just after lunchtime, but I was in early on Friday and I was working in the pool in the afternoon. [Masseur] Billy McCulloch came around my house first thing Saturday morning to get it ready as well so there was constant treatment from the lads who went out of their way.

'It is something no-one sees from the outside but it is much appreciated when it comes off like it did on Saturday. I would have said I was very doubtful on Friday but I woke up next morning and felt better. Fortunately I got there and the manager dragged me off as soon as I got my goal!' he laughed.

'It is good there are no midweek games so I have got a long week now. I can really rest it and get the swelling down and look to keep working hard because even though it was a great performance, we are still a little bit short from where we want to be and hopefully that will come in the next week or two.'

More of the interview can be viewed below with the full interview among the content available on Chelsea TV Online.