Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu has revealed what Frank Lampard told him before he joined Sheffield United on loan.
Ampadu will spend this season on loan at Bramall Lane, joining on a season-long loan following time with RB Leipzig last term.
There are still big hopes for the Welsh international who is tipped to become a regular at Stamford Bridge at some point.
But that time hasn't come just yet, and unable to find a spot in his team for the 19-year-old, Lampard told Ampadu he is sending him on loan to make sure he gets regular minutes.
Speaking to Yorkshire Live, Ampadu revealed: "I spoke to him (Lampard)."
"I respect him a lot, what he has done in the game and him being the Chelsea manager.
"So when we had the conversation, he expressed the importance of playing games, which I expressed to him as well because in the last couple of seasons I had not played a lot.
“He said that he felt this was a good option. He gave me the confidence believing in this place.
"He said he wants to see me play games in the Premier League, so hopefully that what’s I can do."
Ampadu knows his potential, he hears the noise and the excitement around his future, but he is taking one day at a time as he continues his development.
"At the moment, I don't want to get distracted by the future, I just want to work hard," he added.
"If you get distracted by the future you don't keep your eye on the present.
“If I want to make myself an established Premier League player, I have to learn, I have to get strong, I have to get better.
“I want game time, that’s foremost.
"With that comes developing as a player and as a person. That’s the aim, to play a lot of games."
