LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE Lamps: We must give them time to mature

FRANK LAMPARD has called for Mason Greenwood to be given time to mature – just like his Chelsea rising stars.

The Blues boss, who earned 106 England caps, is currently nurturing another Three Lions striker in Tammy Abraham.

With 15 goals for Manchester United this season, rising teenage star Greenwood is tipped to gatecrash Gareth Southgate’s strikeforce for Euro 2021.

But after 15 goals during the first half of the campaign, Abraham has netted just once since January and Lampard

(above) believes the country’s young Lions need time to mature.

He said: “It’s not just Tammy. It’s a general rule. We get very excited with young talent.

“I’ve tried to stay grounded when I get asked a lot about the youth because I felt it coming.

“It’s really hard to come into the Premier League and sustain performances or be in the side all the time, whether it’s Tammy, Mason [Mount], Fikayo [Tomori] or Reece [James].

“They’ve all had periods of real input and playing regularly and periods where it’s not quite so much. That’s something we all have to be a bit calm with from the outside and expect that.

“The main thing from working behind the scenes is that they understand that and that they will have those little moments and not lose confidence.

“I’m always there to support them on that but also they need to continue the work.

“That’s the message for all young players, not just mine.”

Red-hot Greenwood netted twice in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Bournemouth to make it four goals in six games. It has seen him dubbed a wonderkid, with many suggesting the postponement of the Euros until next year could work perfectly in his favour.

But Lampard, whose men go to Crystal Palace tonight, added: “I’ve been there, I know how hard it is to break through, but when you break through, it’s possibly harder to sustain it and move on to the different level, which top players do.

“All these younger players here potentially have it. A lot of it is in their hands at this point.”