Frank
Lampard says trying to maximise Christian Pulisic's impact at Chelsea
remains a "work in progress".
Pulisic will be fit for Saturday's Premier League trip to Everton, having
shaken off his latest hamstring twinge earlier this week.
The United States forward has avoided any injury in a clear relief to both
player and manager at Stamford Bridge.
But Pulisic has suffered a clutch of hamstring issues and Lampard admitted
he, the player and the club are still working hard to find the right balance
of work and rest to help the 22-year-old thrive in west London.
"Christian Pulisic had a tiny bit of awareness off the back of the Leeds
game on one of his hamstrings, but he's training normally," said the Chelsea
boss.
"Christian is a work in progress. I don't want to call this an injury he had
in midweek. If the game had been a different type of game then maybe I would
have used him.
"We know his abilities, that's very clear, he showed them when he came on
against Leeds last week.
"I just have to find the right way to get the best out of him regularly and
consistently."
Meanwhile, Lampard will warn his Chelsea players to live up to their
"responsibilities as role models" and avoid any social-distancing breaches
this Christmas.
While Lampard says rowdy Christmas parties are a thing of the past in the
Premier League, he did admit he would talk to his players about their
conduct.
Blues duo Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell broke coronavirus restrictions at
the former's birthday party in October, with both then missing international
action and apologising.
"I will have those conversations, I will reiterate to them their
responsibilities," said Lampard.
"The Christmas party thing of yesteryear has pretty much mellowed now
anyway.
"Players are so well followed in terms of social media etc, that the parties
I might have been involved in back in the day don't happen in the modern
day.
"On a serious note we have new signings this year, and a fresh squad in a
way.
"And we have missed the opportunity to go out more often and have dinner
together.
"It's tough in terms of Covid, but it is the same for everybody, and the
players have responsibilities as role models to people outside and to do the
right things for their careers.
"Particularly when they are playing so frequently over Christmas they have
to live differently to the rest of the public potentially, and focus, and
that's hopefully a constant reminder."
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