Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi are both in line to start Saturday’s match against Brighton after the pair single-handedly tore apart Grimsby’s defence in midweek.
Billy Gilmour also dazzled on and off the ball with some crisp passing play to break the lines and ease Chelsea’s transition play. The 18-year-old will now be eager to make the step up to the Premier League after making his first start under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
There are of course still question marks over the personnel Lampard will pick in defence, as he tries desperately to earn his first clean sheet of the season – only under Ruud Gullit have the Blues gone on a longer run without a clean sheet (16 games between September and December 1996).
Kurt Zouma was more impressive in attack than defence, scoring once and earning the penalty from which Pedro then scored but this came only after the Frenchman had been caught ball watching for Grimsby’s only goal of the game.
Injuries in key positions, especially at the back, will dictate much of Lampard’s decision making but the returns of James and Hudson-Odoi have now added some much-needed depth to Chelsea’s squad ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
