Chelsea XI set to get even younger following break as stalwart struggles

The beginning of Frank Lampard’s reign as Chelsea boss has gone very much how many would have expected. In only his second season in management, and first in the top-flight, the Blues legend has endured a tricky start to life in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

Five points from four games will leave the rookie coach frustrated but the one main source of optimism will have been the performances of the youngsters he has promoted to the first team.

Lampard named the club’s youngest ever starting XI in a Premier League match up against Sheffield United last time out, averaging 24 years and 158 days. It was 21-year-old Tammy Abraham who gave Chelsea a comfortable lead at the break with a first half brace, only for the Blues to surrender their two-goal lead over the newly promoted side.

Ironically it was the elder statesman in the lineup that the Blades seem to target as a means of getting back into the game, and captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s previously assured spot in the side could soon come under threat.

Chris Wilder focused their attacks, as usual, down the flanks at Stamford Bridge but a whopping 49 per cent came down their left and the Spaniard’s right side. Both of the visitors goals came from balls into the box from that side from a team that, prior to the draw in the capital, had attacked more often from the right wing. They were getting joy at Azpilicueta’s expense and weren’t the first side to do so this season.

Manchester United also had 49 per cent of their attacking touches down their left side on the opening day against Chelsea, while Norwich focused a massive 57 per cent of their touches down that flank. Azpilicueta is, as a result, producing more tackles and interceptions with that higher work load but also committing more fouls and his distribution under greater pressure has been uncharacteristically poor.

A drop from an 87 per cent pass accuracy to 78.7 per cent can of course be partly attributed to a new style of play under Frank Lampard but the severity of that decrease is concerning, even at this early stage. Chelsea’s Mr. Dependable currently looks far from it.

Cue, then, the imminent return from injury of former academy team captain Reece James. The 19-year-old has been suffering with an ankle injury but, following a superb campaign on loan at Wigan - cleaning up at the Championship outfit’s end of season awards - the teenager is very much a part of Lampard’s immediate plans.

The Blues rejected multiple big money offers from Crystal Palace in the summer - the highest believed to be in the region of £25m - and given Azpilicueta’s shaky start, it may not be too long before the youngster makes his first team debut.

Lampard certainly likes his full-backs to support attacks and got the best out of teenage right-back Jayden Bogle last season, showing great faith in the youngster early in the campaign. While Chelsea’s skipper is renowned for his defensive ability - something that is now coming under scrutiny - his quality in the attacking third is more questionable.

Unlike his senior rival for the right-back berth, James is quick, powerful and loves to get into advanced crossing positions. A return of just three assists last season may have been modest but the former Latics loanee, only 12 players in the Championship created more chances last season (74).

Meanwhile, only the aforementioned Bogle and Norwich’s Max Aarons completed more dribbles of all defenders (47), but it was James who pipped both to the right-back berth in the WhoScored.com team of the season (7.10 rating).

If one thing is clear from Lampard’s managerial career so far it’s that age is but a number. He will pick the player he feels is best suited to his approach. There is little doubt that Reece James will offer more in attack than Azpilicueta, and while that may not always be the best option for every game, the teenager should feature in plenty once he returns to full fitness.

Throw in the imminent comeback of Callum Hudson-Odoi - not to mention the fact that Ruben Loftus-Cheek should be back in the reckoning in a matter of months - and the club’s new record for their youngest ever Premier League XI could be broken after the international break.