Chelsea boss Frank Lampard insists Werner and Havertz ‘will come good’ but hints at promoting Gilmour and Hudson-Odoi
CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard insists Timo Werner and Kai Havertz ‘will come good’ – but admits Billy Gilmour and Callum Hudson-Odoi are knocking on the door.
Big money buy Werner had gone 12 games without a goal while Havertz has struggled for form since his own huge transfer arrival last summer.
But both men took advantage of their opportunity to impress over the weekend as they got on the scoresheet as the Blues thumped Morecambe 4-0 in the FA Cup.
And afterwards Lampard was quick to urge the doubters to give them time to settle.
He told talkSPORT: “The people that question them should look at other top players that have come at a young age to this country.
“Eden Hazard being a great example. He came here and became one of our greatest players ever.
“It’s not an easy transition to this league. It’s a hard league and I think people that question them should give them time because they are great lads and we signed them for now and the future.
“I understand the questions as it’s the world we live in. They will prove to be big players for the club.”
Meanwhile, youngsters Billy Gilmour and Callum Hudson-Odoi both continued to state their case to replace some of Chelsea‘s big-money buys in the starting line-up with impressive displays of their own.
The 19-year-old Gilmour burst onto the scene last season before injury hampered his progress.
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But yesterday the Scot showed he was back to his best, with Lampard saying: “I think Billy is pushing and has been since he made his breakthrough last season against top-level opposition.
“His injury came soon after that but from those moments I knew Billy would be a very, very good player for this club, to say the least.”
Hudson-Odoi, 20, grabbed his fifth goal of the season against the League Two minnows.
Lampard said: “In terms of how long until he makes that case [for a run in the team]? He’s making it now.
“When everyone is fit we have maybe three natural wingers and he’s one of them. There’s always going to be a time when I have to make selection decisions.
“The way he’s playing now means he’s assisting, he’s scoring goals, he’s a threat every time he plays, it makes me really happy because that is definitely an uplift from Callum and as I say, there’s more gears he can go through.
“Again, he’s another young player with lots to come. Don’t expect too much but it’s good to expect more from him because he’s showing a lot.”
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