Frank
Lampard believes Patrick Bamford should be "proud" of how his career has
progressed since leaving Chelsea as Lampard plans to nullify the former
Blues forward on Saturday.
Leeds travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Saturday - live on Sky
Sports - with Bamford, who has scored seven league goals already this
season, expected to lead the line for the visitors.
Lampard was still a key part of Chelsea's midfield when Bamford joined the
club as a teenager from Nottingham Forest in 2012, while he spent a year
playing alongside Jack Harrison during the pair's time with New York City in
2016.
Bamford never made a first-team appearance for Chelsea but was a key part of
Leeds' promotion back to the Premier League, as well as stepping up this
campaign, while Harrison has the joint-highest number of league assists for
Bielsa's side.
"I remember him well," Lampard said of Bamford. "He was a young player when
he arrived at the club. Clearly he had great finishing abilities and an eye
for goal.
"Obviously it didn't quite work out for him - that's probably more due to
the competition he faced during that period up front for us.
"I think he should be proud of the way his career has gone; to make
different moves and come back and be one of the leading scorers in the
Premier League, in a very good Leeds team.
"Jack is a million miles from the player he was in New York. I hope that
doesn't sound negative in any way because he was a real developing player at
that point.
"An absolutely lovely lad - I've got so much time for Jack. We keep in touch
and I actually spoke to him the other day.
"The player that he has developed into at Leeds has been really, really
impressive."
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