Mason Mount looking more “like a second striker” under Frank Lampard at Chelsea, says Declan Rice
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice believes it’s clear Mason Mount has been training under Frank Lampard at Chelsea by the way his game has developed.
The duo both played a role as England thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley on Saturday, ensuring Gareth Southgate’s side remain atop of Group A in the qualifying stages for Euro 2020.
Mount showing off ‘Lampard-esque’ traits at Chelsea? Five things to know…
- During his first loan spell away from Chelsea at Vitesse, Mount was praised for his goalscoring ability.
- He followed up an impressive 14-goal haul in Holland by notching 11 on loan at Derby County last term.
- At Pride Park, Mount worked under Lampard during the now Chelsea boss’ first step into football management.
- Now in the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge, Mount has continued to bag goals from midfield.
- He has two in four Premier League appearances, and Rice says Mount is showing Lampard-esque traits.
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Mount enjoyed prolific goalscoring rates at both Vitesse and Derby County but Rice insists he’s not surprised that his international teammate has been able to transmit that instinctive predatory form over to elite-level football.
“I’m not surprised at all [with his form],” Rice told the Evening Standard. “I’ve said to loads of people, he could score in every game if he wanted to.
“I can tell he’s training with Frank and they’re working really well because he’s like a second striker, making those runs which Lampard used to do.
“He’s going to keep doing that at Chelsea for years.”
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“I felt like a proud best friend”
Mount and Rice have known each other since developing a friendship in the Chelsea academy before the latter departed for the Hammers in 2014, and the east London midfielder has since revealed the ‘pride’ he felt when Mount made his introduction in the 67th minute at the weekend.
He said: “From the moment he was lined up to come on, I had a smile on my face. When he ran out to the reception he got, it was really special. I felt like a proud best friend.
“I thought this would be the last way of us playing together again. You’d think we’d maybe rekindle at a club somewhere but for it to come with England is really special. It’s the best way to do it.
“Since we were young, we’ve always been egging each other on to get better. We’ve always had a winning mentality. We went our separate ways but always stayed in contact, dropped each other a message now and then.
“It just shows the type of character he is that he came on and did excellently. He fully deserves it.”
