Lampard praise for loan stars

DERBY County boss Frank Lampard has not ruled out dipping into the loan market again when the January transfer window opens.

Lampard’s loan signings this season have all made a significant impact.

Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori have made 65 appearances between them - 62 of them starts - since arriving at Derby in the summer.

Mount, on a season-long loan from Chelsea, has made 23 starts, scoring five goals, and earned his first call-up to England’s senior squad.

Tomori, also on loan from Chelsea, has made 22 starts in his 23 games. The 20-year-old defender has formed a pairing with Richard Keogh at centre-back.

Wilson’s 19 appearances include 17 starts and he is joint top scorer with Jack Marriott on eight goals.

Lampard is pleased with the contribution of the three young players.

“It’s not easy for them,” said Lampard. “The competition in the Championship is huge and these young boys are progressing, as players, as men. They’ve been very good for us and I love seeing them progress.”

The trio have helped to reduce the average age of Derby’s team, which was one of the tasks Lampard faced.

Derby’s team that took on Fulham in their final game of last season had an average age of almost 30. The average age of the Rams side that started against Wigan Athletic on Saturday was 25.