ZOLA: NO FRANK FAVOUR

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has denied that Chelsea are doing Frank Lampard a special favour by allowing him to field Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori for Derby in the Carabao Cup tonight. Maurizio Sarri has taken the rare step of allowing the loan pair to face their parent club in the last16 tie at Stamford Bridge — but Blues assistant Zola insists the decision has nothing to do with Lampard’s hero status at Chelsea. Zola said: ‘I can tell you it’s not that (Lampard). It is because we believe at the end of the day that Mason and Tomori, they grew up as players. We believe that by playing against us it is an opportunity for them to grow up quicker. The more they play against Premier League teams the more experience they get. And we can make better evaluations on them.’ Mount is expected to be fit after suffering a minor foot injury. Meanwhile Chelsea coach Marco Ianni has been fined £6,000 after admitting an FA charge of improper conduct for his goading celebration in front of Jose Mourinho in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United earlier this month. The FA did not punish Mourinho but he was ‘formally reminded of his responsibilities’.