Frank Lampard has reiterated that Fikayo Tomori has proven himself as one of his top centre-backs.
The youngster has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water after spending last season on loan with Derby County under the now-Chelsea boss.
His run of games in the first team has coincided with the injury sustained by Antonio Rudiger, but Lampard insists that the youngster is there on merit.
Speaking to the press , he said: "Tomori - I worked with him last year.I have a lot of trust in him, that is pretty evident because it was my choice to keep him at the club and not loan him out into the Premier League where he was much wanted by other clubs, because I believe in him.
"As far as Rudiger I don’t see it as a one for one.
"I have four very good centre backs, contesting for two or three positions and what Tomori has done is give himself a really, really good start in the race from the way he has played and now he is competing officially for one of those starting slots.
"On top of that he must keep working and improve. There’s a lot more to come from him.”
