Fikayo Tomori has revealed what Frank Lampard told him about his role in the Chelsea squad this season before making his full debut against Sheffield United.
The defender has come through the ranks at Stamford Bridge and is enjoying a strong first season in the first-team.
Lampard coached Tomori last season at Derby County, where he picked up the Player of the Year award despite only being on loan.
Coming back into the Chelsea fold and being reunited with Lampard, Tomori detailed the differences in his pre-season and what the Chelsea boss told him before he was handed his full debut.
"Coming into the season, I knew I was ready to challenge myself even more," Tomori told Sky Sports' The Football Show.
"I wasn't sure if that was going to be at Chelsea, I just wanted to do everything I could and see what happened. The manager took me on the pre-season tour, the first time I'd spent the whole pre-season with the first-team, normally I'd just spent a week and then go out on loan.
"The season came and I was still with them and part of the Premier League matchday squad for the first time since I was 18. I was in the squad and on the bench and I felt I was part of the team, that helped me grow in confidence.
"In training, I felt I was ready. When the manager put me in for my full debut against Sheffield United, I felt ready. I knew he had the confidence in me from Derby.
"He told me, 'you're not just playing not because you're a body, you've earned the spot'. That filled me with confidence and I got a run in the team."
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