Top 5: Chelsea youngsters to get their chance under Frank Lampard
Chelsea announced the eagerly awaited news that they had appointed club legend Frank Lampard to be their new head coach last week.
Lampard received lots of praise during his first season as a manager with Derby County, where he led a young Rams side to the Championship play-off final, where they were beaten by Aston Villa.
The 41-year-old will replace Maurizio Sarri, who only spent a year in the dugout at Stamford Bridge before departing for Italian champions Juventus.
As is stands, Lampard, who is the Blues’ all-time leading goalscorer, will not be able to make any new signings with the club currently under a two-window transfer ban after breaching FIFA regulations on the acquisition of youth players.
Lampard has signed a three-year deal at Chelsea.
This means the former England international will have to use those already on the books of the West London club, meaning the youngsters who would usually be sent out on loan could get a chance.
Although they didn’t get as many starts as they would have liked, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were involved in the senior squad on a regular basis last term, showing promise on a number of occasions.
But which other young academy graduates could potentially shine in this exciting new regime?
Shoot takes a look at five players we could see in regular Premier League action for Lampard’s Chelsea in the not too distant future.
5. Fikayo Tomori
After loan stints at three different teams, including spending last year at Derby with Lampard, Fikayo Tomori could now be ready to step up and make an impact for his parent club.
Starting 43 of the Rams’ 46 league games, the 21-year-old helped the Championship side boast one of the best defensive records in the second-tier.
The centre-back was also a part of the Brighton & Hove Albion squad that won promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago.
4. Ethan Ampadu
The only player on this list who didn’t go out on loan last season but one that wasn’t quite given the same opportunities under Sarri as Hudson-Odoi or Loftus-Cheek is Ethan Ampadu.
The Blues signed the defensive midfielder from Exeter City in 2017 and he has slowly worked his way into the matchday squad.
A senior Wales international, the 18-year-old played just 283 minutes under the Italian but it’s expected his talent will make him more prominent under Lampard.
3. Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham’s 26 league goals in 40 appearances for Aston Villa saw him finish last season as the Championship’s second highest scorer, only behind Teemu Pukki of Norwich City.
The striker’s prolific form in front of goal helped the Villans win promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs – ironically against Lampard’s Derby in the final.
The 21-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable goal-getter, and now he may finally get the chance to hit the back of the net for the side he’s been at since the age of six.
2. Reece James
Reece James excelled in 45 league appearances for Wigan Athletic last term, resulting in him being included in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
The full-back chipped in with three goals and three assists for the Latics and was even given the captaincy for their last game of the season – a 1-0 win over Millwall.
Now the 19-year-old has proven himself in the second-tier of English football, he could get a chance in the top-flight under Lampard, especially with current back-up right-back Davide Zappacosta expected to depart.
1. Mason Mount
Mason Mount already has a relationship with the new boss, having starred under him during his loan spell at Derby last season.
The 20-year-old has been highly praised after playing a big role in the Rams’ bid for promotion, registering nine goals and four assists in 38 league appearances.
Gareth Southgate has clearly been impressed by the midfielder’s performances, as he called him up to the England senior squad for the Three Lions’ Nations League games against Spain and Croatia in December.