Lampard Hails Impact Of Returning Mount

Frank Lampard was thrilled to see Mason Mount make his Derby County comeback after two months out in Saturday’s 6-1 thrashing of Rotherham United.

The 20-year-old returned from two months out injured with an impressive display as Lampard’s side resumed their league programme following the two-week international break in scintillating fashion.

Mount, on loan at Pride Park Stadium from Chelsea for the season, missed ten games with a hamstring injury but resumed full training earlier this week.

The attacking midfielder immediately returned to the starting line-up and showed his undoubted quality in a fine display.

He got his name on the scoresheet with a trademark run into the box from deep and was also at the heart of Derby’s best attacking play all afternoon.

Lampard told RamsTV after Saturday’s match: “We’ve missed Mason, of course we have.

“Mason is so crucial because he is a top young player.

“It’s been a difficult part of our season because we’ve had long-term injuries and also critical injuries at times.

“Mason, as I said, has been a loss because he was out for two months. If you take the top players out of the top clubs in this division then it becomes difficult for everybody.

“We did suffer without him but on the positive side we’ve got him back, he looked great out there and he’s only going to get better.”

Mount got 76 minutes under his belt before being replaced with the Rams well on course to returning to the Sky Bet Championship’s top six.

Lampard had no doubts about the youngster’s fitness after a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

He was, however, impressed to see him hit the ground running so quickly as Derby hit six at Pride Park for the first time since its opening in 1997.