Frank Lampard Backs Tammy Abraham to Stand in for Battle-Worn Harry Kane at Euro 2020

Frank Lampard is adamant that Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is ready to be more than just a stop-gap for the England national team following Harry Kane's long-term injury.

The Tottenham Hotspur star will be out of action until April and could even see his place in Gareth Southgate's side at Euro 2020 come under threat as a result.

It's an injury which has prompted Tottenham to search for a temporary replacement in the transfer market, but Chelsea boss Lampard believes Abraham is ready to be more than just Kane's stand-in ahead of the tournament this summer.

"It is not nice for Harry, to see an injury to a player like him because he is a great professional," Lampard said, as quoted by The Express. "But Tammy has gotten himself regularly into the squad. He has given himself a chance.

"There are all sorts of competitors for those place. It just depends on what Tammy does and what the squad is.

"I am delighted for Tammy for what he has done this season. I never want to step on Gareth's toes, he has his squad to pick.

"But Tammy is a player who can play at the very highest level. Tammy should always be thinking that this is a chance for him. He’s not silly."

Abraham has scored 12 goals this season and is currently the Premier League's third highest-scoring Englishman, behind Jamie Vardy (17) and Danny Ings (13).

The 22-year-old has been Chelsea's standout player as Lampard's side look to stake their claim for a place in the top four - breaking the 'curse' of the club's number nine shirt in the process.

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"People were saying ‘be careful, that shirt has not always had the best feeling for players here'," Lampard added. "But it was my decision to give it to him purely on his personality. His personality was saying ‘I want to be Chelsea’s number nine.’ That was his aim at all times.

"Some players wearing the number nine shirt didn’t score enough. So it becomes a negative.

"If you’re signing a 25-year-old it can be a really easy decision, but a young boy - does he need that pressure? My opinion was yes."

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Source : 90min