Rafael Benitez insists Frank Lampard is not being discarded by Chelsea

Midfielder says he has years at the top level in him

Rafael Benitez today insisted Frank Lampard was not being discarded by Chelsea because he was past his best.

Interim manager Benitez claimed the Stamford Bridge decision-makers who have halted contract talks with the England midfielder had no doubt about "his condition, his levels, his quality".

Benitez suggested owner Roman Abramovich and the board were analysing "different things", but did not go into more detail.

It is only possible to speculate what they might be but one could be the fact that Lampard is one of the highest earners at the club during an era of Financial Fair Play.

His age, 34, and recent injury record might also come into it but Benitez told BBC Sport: "For sure, he's a fantastic player, a great professional - there's no doubt about this.

"Also, when I talk to the people in charge, they are telling me the same, so nobody has any doubt about his condition, his levels, his quality.

"So the decision could be analysing different things, not just the quality of the player."

Lampard insisted he had "two or three years at least" left to give as an elite footballer - even if Chelsea appeared to think otherwise.

He admitted yesterday his glittering career with the European champions could be drawing to a close after revealing he was not in talks with them over a new contract to replace the one that expires next summer.

Lampard appeared resigned to his fate after helping Chelsea into the Club World Cup final in Yokohama, coming off the bench against Monterrey for his second appearance since recovering from a troublesome calf problem.

That compounded an injury-hit 2012 but Lampard made it clear he had more to give.

"I feel like I have two or three years, at least, in me at the top level," he said.

"It is not for me to decide on this one. It's up to the club.

"Whatever happens, I have had a great time at Chelsea. I am determined to play a few more years and see what pans out in the near future."

Lampard, whose 11 years' service at Chelsea and third place in the club's all-time list of scorers has seen him become an heroic figure there, added: "There have been no talks about anything about an extension.

"Maybe things don't last forever. Although I want it to last forever, you have to be big enough to know what it is."

Lampard has been linked with moves to Los Angeles Galaxy, Chinese club Guizhou Rehne and a host of other clubs - even Chelsea's Barclays Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Already short in midfield, Chelsea are unlikely to let him leave in January but he could sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere.

Lampard added: "I'm not the kind of player to see out my time and sit with my bum on the bench too much. I want to be involved.

"I will keep trying to do that, whatever the circumstances."

Lampard's seven and a half weeks out injured co-incided with Chelsea's worst winless Barclays Premier League run for 15 years, the sacking of manager Roberto Di Matteo and the appointment of Rafael Benitez as interim boss.

It also spanned the entirety of the Mark Clattenburg affair, over which team-mate John Obi Mikel yesterday broke his silence.

Mikel is currently serving a three-match ban for threatening Clattenburg after Chelsea's acrimonious Premier League defeat in October.

The Nigeria international did so after being told by team-mate Ramires that the referee had called him "a monkey" during the game, something of which the official was last month cleared by the Football Association.

The police also declined to take action against Clattenburg and Mikel said yesterday: "I think now it is done I am glad it is over.

"I am sure he is glad it is over as well and the FA is glad it is all put to bed and we can move on from here."

PA