‘The moment any complacency kicks in they will suffer’: Frank Lampard warns youngsters Tammy Abraham and Fiyako Tomori they can’t afford to slack off after England call-ups
- Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have been called up by Gareth Southgate
- The youngsters have become first team regular under Frank Lampard at Chelsea
- Both players will be in the England squad to play Bulgaria and Czech Republic
- Lampard has told the young stars that they must not let their standards drop
ByDaniel Matthews For Mailonline
Published:(***************************************************: 31 EDT, 4 October 2019|Updated:10: (EDT, 4 October) **************************************
ChelseamanagerFrank Lampardhas warned promising youngsters Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori against complacency following their call up to the England squad – claiming they will ‘suffer’ if they let their standards drop moving forward.
Abraham was recalled toGareth Southgate‘s squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Czech Republic next week, while 21 – year-old defender Tomori is in the squad for the first time. Midfielders Mason Mount and Ross Barkley are also in Gareth Southgate’s 25.
The call-up is reward for a fine start to the season for both Abraham and Tomori and speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash withSouthampton, Lampard revealed they had ‘big smiles on their faces’ at training.
Frank Lampard has urged Abraham and Tomori to up their game after their England call-ups
Lampard congratulates center-back Tomori after beating Lille in the Champions League
The Chelsea boss shakes hands with Abraham, who scored the first goal of the game
But the Chelsea boss warned them: ‘It is great news for them, but as I keep saying that it is just the start. The minute any standards drop or complacency kicks in then they will all suffer. I am pleased they smile, they need to take this now, something to add to their armory and say, ‘Okay I am an England player, I am in the England squad. I need to show even more, game in and game out for us ‘.’
Abraham marked his 22 nd birthday with a goal in their Champions League win over Lille on Wednesday.
The striker now has eight goals for the season but Lampard said: ‘The work has only begun for him because he is a young player. I want to see him continue in the same vein for Chelsea and to keep scoring goals.
‘Naturally when he goes to the England squad he has the attributes to go there and be successful. It is another step for him but I am sure that he has the attitude to take that challenge of being a goalscorer for England. ‘
The pair, who rose through the Chelsea ranks together, celebrate Tomori’s goal against Wolves
Lampard has worked with Tomori for the past year and a half, having coached him at Derby last season, too.
The Chelsea boss has overseen his rise to the England squad and said the defender ‘has been a dream to work with day in, day out for the last 15 months or so. ‘
He continued: ‘Getting now into the team is the next challenge, then it will be about staying in the team … it is in Fikayo’s hands to show them what he shows us every day. ‘
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