Frank Lampard gives Chelsea’s kids hope after fielding more youngsters than any Championship or Premier League club last season at Derby
CHELSEA'S youngsters will be delighted with the appointment of Frank Lampard.
The Blues legend, 41, was appointed as Maurizio Sarri's replacement on Thursday after weeks of speculation and an impressive maiden season as a manager at Derby County.
With Chelsea unable to sign players this summer, Lampard will be expected to give academy prospects the chance to fill out his squad - the first time in the Roman Abramovich era where youth has been given an opportunity.
Part of Lampard's appeal was not only his obvious connection to Chelsea and impressive first season at Pride Park, taking the Rams to the play-off final, but his willingness to play kids.
In fact, Lampard gave more minutes to players aged 21 and under than any of the 44 clubs in the Premier League OR Championship.
The Blues record goalscorer handed out 13,137 league minutes to players of that age, 12,746 more than Sarri gave to his young players.
Only four clubs - Cardiff City (0) Millwall (35), Brighton (110) and Watford (360) - handed out less game time to young players than Sarri.
Four of Lampard's five most used players, Fikayo Tomori, Jayden Bogle, Harry Wilson and Mason Mount, were aged 21 or under last season.
Two of those, Mount and Tomori, are Chelsea players and are expected to be in Lampard's plans next season.
Other youngsters like Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, Ethan Ampadu and Christian Pulisic are also likely to be in the new boss' plans.
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Lampard will bring Jody Morris back to Chelsea with him as his No2.
Morris knows Chelsea's academy inside out, having been a coach and then manager of the Under-18 side between 2014 and 2018.
Eddie Newton, another former Chelsea player and the man in charge of looking after loan players, will join Lampard's backroom staff as a first-team coach.
