Bark can handle the bite of Toffees haters

FRANK LAMPARD is backing Ross Barkley to beat the Everton boo-boys this afternoon.

In a week when fans abusing players is in the spotlight – after Eric Dier’s clash with a Tottenham supporter – Chelsea ace Barkley is sure to be targeted by the Toffees faithful at Stamford Bridge.

The ex-Everton midfielder has been public enemy No.1 with the blue half of Merseyside since a £15million move to the Londoners in January 2018.

But Lampard, no stranger to stick from West Ham followers during his playing days, is adamant Barkley can handle the inevitable flack that is coming his way.

And he is urging the

England international (right) to silence the snipers with a match-winning display – similar to the one that helped knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Tuesday.

The Chelsea boss said:

“Ross has been away from

Everton for a couple of years, but in the life that footballers live, you move, so you’re going to get abuse.

“I’m not coming down on fans here. There’s abuse and there’s the typical behaviour of a fan who gives some lighthearted reaction to a player who played for them. That I get.

“To try and take as little notice of it as possible – and actually show what you can do on the pitch – is always the best answer. That’s what Ross needs to do. “What I know with him is he’s a really good-natured lad.

“He’s very close to his family, who obviously have roots back in

Everton. So, I don’t think he will have a crazy reaction and revel in it. He’s not that type.

“But he’s the determined type. He will want to do well against his old team.”

That was something Lampard specialised in whenever he faced his first club, West Ham.

The more the Hammers hate-mob attempted to rattle him, the more pleasure he took in beating them.

The England legend recalled: “In the early years playing them fired me up too much. But after I’d settled down, it fired me up in a good way.

“I liked the challenge of going up against them. Your personality dictates that, but I am confident that Ross will handle it in a good way.”

Chelsea’s lengthy injury list, including midfielders Willian, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, means that Barkley will start again today.

And if disappointed with his lack of first-team action this term, the midfielder’s reaction to the situation has definitely impressed Lampard.

“Earlier in the season, Ross would probably say he could’ve done better. But he’s taken that in the most positive way, worked hard and got his nose in the team,” the Blues boss explained.

“If he plays like he did against Liverpool and Tottenham recently he’s a big player for this club.”

As for 26-year-old Barkley, whose wonder strike killed off the Reds, finding the net more regularly, Chelsea’s record goalscorer is optimistic.

Lamps said: “His shooting, right and left foot, is as good, technically, as I’ve seen on the training pitch.

“But he is not just a scoring midfielder. He can play, run, tackle – he can do a lot.”