Frank Lampard has praised the performance of Mason Mount and suggested it is time for the youngster to shine at Stamford Bridge.
The pair worked together at Derby County last season, helping them to the Championship play-off final where the Rams narrowly lost out to Aston Villa.
Blues legend Lampard was romantically reunited with his beloved club after being appointed Head Coach earlier this month.
Now the 41-year-old is ready to place his trust in young players such as Mount and Fikayo Tomori, who was named Derby's Player of the Year last season.
Chelsea were in pre-season action on Friday, where they were beaten 1-0 by Kawasaki Frontale on their tour of Japan.
Speaking after the game, Lampard was full of admiration for Mount and believes the 20-year-old has maintained the qualities he showed at Derby:
He said: "I thought Mason's performance was really good and it was a continuation of how he played for me last year and how he's trained for me since last Friday as he's not been with us long, but his energy and his quality.
"Mason's part of the first-team squad this year and it's time for him. His qualities will improve even more with the qualities around him.
"Everyone knows the hopes I have for Mason and he showed today a glimmer early in pre-season of what we might see this year and going forward."
Leandro Damiao scored with minutes to spare which subjected Lampard and Chelsea to their first defeat of the pre-season campaign.
They began with a draw against Bohemians before defeating St. Patrick's on their tour of Ireland, before moving onto Japan, where they are now preparing to face Barcelona on Monday night.
With a transfer ban hanging over Chelsea, Lampard will be looking for young players such as Mount to grasp this opportunity to make their mark on the first team.
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