Lampard To Assess Tomori, Abraham In Pre-Season, Nigerian Coach To Work With New Chelsea Boss

Published: July 04, 2019

Newly appointed coach of Chelsea, Frank Lampard will assess two Nigeria-eligible players, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham, in pre-season with a view to retaining them in the first team squad for the upcoming season.

Tomori caught the eye at Derby County last season under the tutelage of Lampard while Abraham was farmed out on loan for the third successive season, this time Aston Villa, where he netted 26 goals in 40 matches.

With Chelsea hit with a transfer ban for two windows, they may need to promote some of the outstanding young players they loaned out over the last few seasons.

Asked if Tomori and Mason Mount are in his plans by reporters at today's press conference, Lampard replied : ''Yeah they were great for me last year, both of them and I appreciated that.

''They were pivotal in the team and they come back now with a very clean slate as does every player, young, old, been on loan, at the club, whatever they are to prove in pre-season that they have a chance to be in the squad going forward so they are the same.''

On Tammy Abraham, the record goalscorer in the history of Chelsea stated : ''Tammy Abraham is the same who I played against in the final, players like that who have been on loan, come back and know that what they show in pre-season will give them opportunity.''.

Meanwhile, Eddie Newton, who is of Nigerian descent, has been promoted to first-team coach and he'll be part of Lampard's staff.

Last season, the former Blues midfielder was saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the club's loanees.

Igho Kingsley

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