Werner ‘will have a fantastic Chelsea career’

Timo Werner needs to feel positivity and support from the Chelsea staff and players to turn around his recent dip in form, says boss Frank Lampard.

And Lampard has predicted that Werner’s recent struggles will prove to be a mere blip in his Blues career.

The 24-year-old German’s goal in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Morecambe this month was his first in 13 games, although he has scored nine goals in a total of 26 club appearances.

But he was dropped for last week’s 1-0 win over Fulham and then wasted a couple of good chances after coming on as a late substitute.

Lampard, talking ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League game against second-placed Leicester City, said he would speak with the striker and “manage him on the training pitch”.

“That’s where little periods like this always turn around,” Lampard added. “It’s something I experienced a lot in my career. It’s something all players will experience in their careers in their own ways.

“When you are a top player, as Timo has shown he is, all eyes are on and it becomes magnified. But the basics are the same and that’s what my job is; to tell him that and work with him on it.

“He needs support and help around him, he needs to keep his head down and focus. My job is to support around him and give him positivity and confidence because Timo Werner didn’t score the goals over the last few years that he’s scored by chance. He scored those goals because of his huge talent.”

Lampard, whose side moved up to seventh in the table following the win against their near-neighbours on Saturday, said Werner was going through a tough time but it will only be “a small period in what will be a fantastic career for him at Chelsea”.

“I’ve got no doubts about that”, Lampard said. “I hope people around it can see it that way.”