When Frank Lampard netted Chelsea’s third goal during their 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday, not only did it calm the nerves of several fans in Stamford Bridge, but it also saw the midfielder net his 198th goal for the club; a mightily impressive figure for a player who has moved to a deeper role this season.
The goal also put Lampard’s Premier League figure for the season into double marks for the 10th consecutive season and put him level with Juan Mata as top scorer this year, with Fernando Torres glumly stuck on seven for the year.
Yet again, it was another example of why the Blues should be offering the 34-year-old a new contract. With Lampard’s contract expiring at the end of the season, speculation has been rife regarding his future amidst reports that Roman Abramovich is prepared to allow him to leave, while others suggest a new deal has since been offered.
Either way, his experience and goal getting capability is exactly another reason why the Blues should be offering the England international a new deal. Whenever Lampard plays, the Chelsea midfield ticks, even if he is playing in an unfamiliar role to previous seasons.
However, this had aided in the diminutive trio of Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard, who are charged with breaking into the box to find the back of the net or notch another assist, as proven on Saturday when the latter pulled back for Lampard to bury in the dying embers, with nobody tracking his run from deep; another advantage of the midfielder playing the ‘Doppel Sechs’ role.