Frank Lampard impressed by young Blues following 4-3 victory against Reading

After watching his side run out narrow winners in a seven-goal thriller with Reading, Blues boss Frank Lampard has provided a rare hope for Chelsea’s youth products this campaign.

For so long the club had been tarnished for their failure to give their glittering academy a chance in the first team with the pathway constantly blocked.

However, with an incoming manager who experienced success at his former club Derby County through injecting youth whilst reducing the average playing age, there is a real opportunity for the youngsters at the Cobham training ground to seize. Combine that with the ongoing transfer embargo, it is widely suggested the club are ready to finally place trust into the innocence of youth.

The injection of greenness and perhaps freshness was on display at the Madjeski stadium on Sunday where they underwent a solid assignment against Reading. Lampard gave a number of fringe players an opportunity to impress. The likes of Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount were given 45 minutes each after successful loan spells away from Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, more experienced outcasts were involved. Danny Drinkwater was restored after being left out in the cold for the entirety of last season as well as £40 million signing Tiémoué Bakayoko returning to the fold.

With three games until the curtain-raiser at Old Trafford, the newly appointed Lampard was putting the finishing touches to an assured pre-season, where the high point came against Barcelona in Japan. The 41-year-old guided his side to a 2-1 victory under a week ago.

Following the 4-3 win against Reading, Lampard highlighted pre-season was all about learning ahead of the Premier League campaign beginning on August 11. He was also quick to praise the Blues young players for stepping up:

“The fitness is good and we want to keep testing the players by trying different systems and formations. The players have gave everything the staff have asked of them. The clock is ticking and we only have two weeks left to be ready for Manchester United but I’m pleased.

Ross Barkley was class and scored a great with the free-kick. Mason Mount with two goals gives us competition in midfield. I know Mason from last year with Derby and he has bright future at the club.

There is not a player who hasn’t pushed themselves and shown me everything but there are decisions I have to make. It’s great to be back and at my club.”