FRANK LAMPARD has been given a golden opportunity to continue promoting Chelsea’s young stars with the introduction of the five substitute rule.
Premier League club have given the green light to the temporary change in the law as a way of preventing injuries following the long coronavirus pandemic lay-off.
And the Blues are well-placed to take advantage with fringe stars and young prospects ready to fill their boots.
Here, SunSport details the five players with the best hope of benefitting from the rule change.
Olivier Giroud
Ignored by boss Lampard for the first half of the campaign, the Frenchman came back into view after a January move away from the club was blocked.
An injury to Tammy Abraham gave Michy Batshuayi a chance to impress and, when the Belgian didn’t take his chance, Giroud pounced.
A pair of goals, including the opener in the February beating of Tottenham, have emphasised the valuable role he can play and helped bag a new contract to 2021.
Abraham is expected to lead the line when football returns but Giroud’s impact off the bench will become a common feature in Chelsea’s push for a top-four finish.
Billy Gilmour
With N’Golo Kante yet to fully commit to playing again this season, young midfielder Gilmour could represent a ready-made replacement.
The 18-year-old starred in the anchor man role in wins over Everton and Liverpool before the shutdown.
Jorginho should now be back to knock Gilmour back to the bench but those performances have set him up well to become a reliable substitution option.
Tino Anjorin
England youth international Anjorin was a star of the Blues’ UEFA Youth League and EFL Trophy campaigns and made his Premier League bow earlier this year.
As a versatile player across attacking midfield and the wide areas, the teenager can look forward to more opportunities in the restart.
Perhaps his best route to first-team football is the imminent exits of Willian and Pedro, who may be phased out particularly if Champions League qualification can be secured early.
Ian Maatsen
Dubbed the next Ashley Cole in some quarters, Maatsen has enjoyed a couple of outings to the senior bench this season, coming on in the Carabao Cup mauling of Grimsby.
Yet to get a call-up to a Premier League squad, the Dutch youngster could be afforded a run-out if Lampard is comfortable that a game is safe.
Like Anjorin, a potential upcoming sale may be the left-back’s most likely route to a game if Emerson Palmieri or Marcos Alonso are no longer favoured by the coach.
Armando Broja
Slough-born Albania youth international Broja entered Lampard’s thoughts with a debut versus Everton in March after hitting nine goals in as many matches in the Under-18s Premier League.
Plucked from Tottenham while just a lad, the forward idolised Didier Drogba and is a powerful frontman in the Ivorian’s mould.
In terms of a wildcard option off the bench, Chelsea need look no further if wanting to shake things up late in games after the restart.
