Frank Lampard has told Antonio Rudiger that he must take on added leadership responsibilities at Chelsea this season, with the head coach convinced that the Germany centre back is ready to be a greater influence on his younger team-mates.
The 26-year-old is expected to make his first start of the season away to Wolves on Saturday afternoon having been sidelined because of a knee injury since April.
He has played two games for the club's Under-23 side in recent weeks and has been fully involved in training for almost a month.
Rudiger's return will be a big boost for the Premier League's second-most porous defence, having conceded nine goals in four games, but Lampard has said that he must also become a role model for his younger team-mates.
"He will have an important role," Lampard said. "I know he has been important for the club and team since he has been here. He has personality, character, he is an international-quality defender and we have missed him, as we have missed a few front line players who will strengthen us as a group. I am certainly pleased to have him back."
Pushed further on Rudiger's leadership qualities, Lampard added: "Everyone talks about how young we are but I don’t want a young team for the sake of it. I want leaders within that.
"Rudiger isn’t old but he certainly needs to take on the responsibility of being a leader. I see it in his personality.
"It has to be channelled in the right direction and he can then be very influential for the team and also for [the likes of Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori]. This happens when you become more experienced and he is ready to take on those roles."
N'Golo Kante will not travel to Molineux for the game against Nuno Espirito Santo's team as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, although Mateo Kovacic is expected to be fit.
