Lampard to offer Mason Mount lifeline at Chelsea

Frank Lampard has taken interim charge of Chelsea for the rest of the season out of the blue and already has plans to reincorporate Mason Mount into his starting line-up.

Despite holding discussions with Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique after cutting ties with underperforming Graham Potter, the Blues have brought the prodigal son back as a temporary solution.

After a nightmarish spell at Everton, the Englishman will have around two months to help Chelsea avoid a first bottom-half finish in the Premier League since 1995/96 and potentially defy the odds in Europe.

With a mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final tie against reigning holders Real Madrid waiting in the wings, Lampard won’t have much time to draw a game plan amid the Pensioners’ rough patch.

Bringing Mount back to the first-team picture is atop the former midfielder’s priorities, as he kindly revealed during his first press conference as Chelsea’s interim manager.

“Mason has always been a fantastic player for me, from my days at Derby, the impact he had there, to when I came back to Chelsea,” he told Chelsea’s website.

“With Mason, I know he’s had a few slight injury problems as I understand it.

“The important thing for me will be to talk to him and find out where he’s at, but I know what I get from Mason.

“So I just want to see him perform on the pitch and we have a good relationship, so we’ll talk a lot.

“I think he’s a huge player for Chelsea and has been during his time here.”

Mount tumbled down the pecking order down the final stretch of Potter’s managerial stint at Stamford Bridge, surrendering his place in the starting XI to Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix.

His current situation in west London has led to speculation linking the 24-year-old with a summer exit, a year before the expiration of his contract at Chelsea.

Liverpool and Manchester United have emerged as potential landing spots for the English playmaker should dragged extension talks with the Blues fall flat.

But with Lampard back and ready to reignite Mount’s career at the Bridge, the highly-rated midfielder could pledge his future to the blue jersey despite his recent struggle.