“No problem”: Lampard insists all is well with academy graduate struggling for game time

Frank Lampard provides an update on the situation of Fikayo Tomori

As reported by Football.london, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has insisted that all is okay between him and defender Fikayo Tomori, who has hardly featured this season, claiming that the academy ace is still a part of his plans.

The 22-year-old academy graduate became a regular fixture in the first-team last season after a successful loan spell at Derby County under Lampard.

However, since the latter half of the 2019/20 campaign, the defender has struggled to get a look-in into the starting XI. Tomori’s chances have taken a further hit since Thiago Silva arrived at the club this summer on a free transfer.

Indeed, Tomori has featured just three times so far this season, only one of those appearances coming in the Premier League. However, Lampard has insisted that the England international remains a part of his plans for the season. (h/t Football.london)

“I’ve got no problem with Fikayo. I rely on him. That’s clear from when I took him to Derby and how I handled him last year. It remains the same with him.”

Lampard insisted that Tomori rejecting a late loan switch to West Ham United hasn’t had any bearing on his treatment of the defender. The Blues’ boss then added that it was normal at a club as big as Chelsea where competition is so high for each place. (h/t Football.london)

“It’s normal for a young player sometimes, in a squad as competitive as ours, where there are periods where you maybe aren’t playing every week.”

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Tomori has handled himself well whenever the opportunity has come for him. However, at his age, the Englishman needs to be playing regularly. So, perhaps a loan switch in January might be prudent for the 22-year-old.