Ex-Chelsea forward and assistant manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted that both he and former boss Maurizio Sarri did not see the potential in Fikayo Tomori, and he has been surprised by how well he has done for the Blues this campaign.

The 21-year-old was offloaded on loan to Derby last season where he flourished under Frank Lampard, and Zola says he was stunned by how far the centre-back has developed:

“Tomori is one of the players. Last year we had him in the pre-season and we couldn’t see all the qualities that he is showing now. That is a surprise and a big lesson for us and me personally as well. They are going beyond my expectations.”

Tomori was certainly not the only talent overlooked by Sarri with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Kurt Zouma all allowed to leave on loan.

It must be said that both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did establish themselves as regulars under the ex Chelsea manager before the end of last season. However, Lampard has certainly moved things to a different level in terms of the faith he has placed in young players.

The likes of Tomori, Reece James and Billy Gilmour were not expected to play a prominent role this season, but Lampard has found spaces for all of them to shine.