Werner will be key player for Chelsea, says Lampard

Timo Werner is still adjusting to life in the Premier League but will prove to be a good signing for Chelsea, says boss Frank Lampard.

The 24-year-old German striker scored his first goal in 13 games as the Blues beat Morecambe 4-0 in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

He has a total of nine goals from 25 appearances after an impressive start, but has struggled to replicate the scintillating form that saw Chelsea pay £45m to bring him to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig in the close season.

“Everyone has to be patient,” Lampard said prior to Saturday’s Premier League derby against west London neighbours Fulham.

“We will maximise Timo’s talents in this team. And that’s a two-way street of his work and our work. It will happen but it will take time.

“His performances have been pretty good and they will get better the more he works with his team-mates and gets used to the Premier League.

“It’s gone slightly unspoken that a lot of players are given time to come in and out of the team and feel their way in.

“Players who have come into the Liverpool team in recent years have been given time to feel their way into how the team plays.

“With Timo, we didn’t have that opportunity because of certain injuries and because we bought him to make an impact in our first team straightaway.”

Werner is clearly happier playing through the middle rather than out wide, but in Chelsea’s system he is required to press from the front in that central role.

Lampard explained:  “We are, and I do pride myself on this as a manager, a good, hard-working team off the ball.

“It’s very normal for Timo and the other forward players who have come in that it will take some time to get used to my ideas and their team-mates’ ideas.”