Why Chelsea's Frank Lampard Is Still a Key Player for England
Frank Lampard captained England to an 8-0 win over San Marino, scoring the fifth goal of the game to become the nation's top-scoring midfielder with 28 goals for his country. That leaves him two goals behind Alan Shearer's all-time record of 30 goals for England, and his ability to appear in the box at the right time should see him reach that target before he retires from the international game.
In what looks increasingly likely to be his final season at Chelsea, he has already scored 12 goals in 21 Premier League appearances, a remarkable feat for a 34-year-old midfielder. "Super Frank" is still an integral squad member for both club and country and his England teammate Jermain Defoe thinks that the midfielder could continue to play at the highest level for a further three years.
His commitment and professionalism see him arrive early and stay late at training sessions, and the extra effort has paid dividends over his career. As the current England squad enter a period of transition similar to the current position at Stamford Bridge, it is vital that veterans such as Lampard are around to offer support and guidance to the next generation of stars.
If Chelsea fail to offer Lampard a new deal and he chooses to see out his playing days in the MLS, current England manager Roy Hodgson has hinted that that would signal the end of his international career. Seeing as he still has so much to give, both as a consistent goal scorer and role model to the younger players, whether or not Chelsea see the value he continues to offer is crucial to his future with the national side.
