Frank Lampard has hinted that a number of young players at Chelsea could feature in their final three Premier League fixtures of the season. Lewis Hall was handed a rare start against Nottingham Forest with Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella both sidelined with injuries.
The youngster put in a solid performance against Forest and looks to have a bright future at Stamford Bridge - with the potential to develop into a better player under incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The 51-year-old has reached an agreement with the Blues to become manager ahead of the 2023/24 season, with a contract yet to be signed, football.london understands.
Pochettino has a reputation for developing young talent into world-class players and Todd Boehly has done a fine job of securing the signings of some of the hottest prospects across Europe. Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk, Omari Hutchinson, Carney Chukwuemeka, David Datro Fofana and Gabriel Slonina are all tipped for bright futures and Lampard may look to give them a chance in the senior team with three games left to play this term.
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Chelsea do not have anything to fight for anymore this season after mathematically securing their Premier League safety, with European football qualification already out of the question. This gives Lampard the chance to trial some of the Blues' young talents in the first team and let them show Pochettino what they are capable of before he arrives ahead of the summer transfer window.
Speaking to the media following the 2-2 draw against Forest, Lampard hinted that Hall could be joined in the starting XI by the likes of Hutchinson, Fofana and Co for the games against Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle. The Blues caretaker boss said: "They may be looked at in the next few games.
"We need to try and get the results, so I have to think about that, putting out a strong team. But of course, it comes back to how people train through the week and what they show you.
"I don't think you can hold your head up amongst the squad if people are not training [well] and maybe put them in the team. The players have to earn that.
"Lewis [Hall] trained well so he gets his place. Those younger players in the squad have to compete to get their chance - we'll see, though, we'll see."
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