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Frank Lampard says he was well aware of Armando Broja’s pace, strength and ‘eye for goal’ at Chelsea and believes the striker poses a significant threat to his Everton side ahead of their trip to Southampton.
Broja left boyhood club Chelsea to join Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints on loan last August and the 20-year-old has turned heads with a string of outstanding performances this season, scoring eight goals in 24 appearances.
It was Lampard who gave Broja his professional debut as Chelsea put four goals past Everton back in March 2020 and the young forward is preparing to face the Toffees for the only second time in his career on Saturday.
However, Lampard will be watching on as an opposition manager this time around and the Albania international – who has been linked with Arsenal in recent days – will hope to send his old boss a reminder of his undoubted talent at St Mary’s.
Southampton will be buoyed by their recent 1-1 draw away to Manchester United and victory over Everton this weekend could see them close the gap on ninth-placed Brighton to just one point.
Asked whether he was aware of Broja while in charge of Chelsea, Lampard told reporters on Thursday: ‘Well I gave him his debut at Chelsea so I did know him!
‘He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy.
‘He came into us at the start of the Covid times, trained with us and showed the attributes that I think you’re seeing now in the Premier League at Southampton.
‘He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths in a Southampton team playing very well.
‘This Southampton team have been together a long time under the same manager with a very firm idea. Through the tough times they’ve been through they stick together and keep working in the same direction.
‘That’s the sign of a…
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Source : metro
