Alan Shearer has told Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham he needs to improve in the air inside the penalty area and attack crosses with greater purpose and efficiency.
Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer who was famed for his aggression and ruthless finishing from crosses, was analysing Abraham's performance in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
With Abraham leading the line, Frank Lampard can field Timo Werner in a wide-left position and join in attacks from the flank, a tactic which seems to be a preference of the Chelsea manager.
Abraham brings greater height and aerial physicality than the German but, especially in the second half against Tottenham on Sunday, the 22-year-old didn't make the most of Reece James and Hakim Ziyech's delivery.
As Chelsea out-crossed Spurs 26-7, two opportunities in the second half highlighted the problem with James swinging in fantastic near-post centres at perfect speed and height for Abraham to convert but he was unable to get a proper connection.
James sent in 10 crosses and Ziyech four in what appeared a direct strategy from Lampard to test Eric Dier, arguably not a specialist centre-back, and Joe Rodon, who was making his full Premier League debut.
But despite his obvious height advantage, Abraham was not able to profit and a curious statistic emerged after the game that he's only ever scored four goals from crosses.
"I like him but I also think he has to go to the next level and to do that, that stat (only scoring four goals from crossed) has to improve," Shearer said on Match of the Day.
"He is very good at finishing balls that come from midfield and in behind the defence. Where he can improve is when balls come into the box, he needs to have that intelligent movement where number nines score on a regular basis.
"These balls into the box from Reece James are dreamland. His body position is alright. We spoke about Cavani’s movement and how he is in control of the situation. He shouldn’t be flicking it, it should be a bullet header.
"I like him, he has great potential but where he has to go to the next level, the one thin he can improve on is that movement in the box and he can improve that. He just needs to work on it and improve."
