Frank Lampard identifies the Coventry City unsung hero who is a 'dream to work with'
Frank Lampard has declared that midfielder Jamie Allen is a 'dream to work with' after the Coventry City midfielder put in another impressive display in the middle of the park during the 1-0 victory over Bristol City. The Sky Blues captain has only recently returned to action again after spending three months on the sidelines through injury, but has since reclaimed his place in the starting XI.
Lampard has leaned on Allen to lead the side and operate in midfield along with Victor Torp, with Josh Eccles back on the bench awaiting his own opportunity and the influential Ben Sheaf still out with an injury himself for the foreseeable future. Against the Robins, whose midfield of Max Bird, Jason Knight and Scott Twine is a tidy and dangerous triumvirate, Allen coped well.
"Jamie is a player who is a bit of a dream to work with," Lampard said. "He comes in, he loves his job, he doesn't say much and that's his character, but he's a good footballer with a good work ethic. He's a great trainer and I thought his performance, alongside Torpy, in midfield was really good in terms of the play and his diligence.
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"That's been really good because when you come in you're trying to learn about players and Jamie hadn't played so much in the beginning on the back of an injury. Now, he is showing the experience and the qualities he can bring to the team."
Lampard also explained his horses for courses thinking when it comes to his selection policy; Joel Latibeaudiere was restored to the starting XI for this game at the expense of Bobby Thomas, who hadn't dropped out of the starting XI since August. Jay Dasilva also got the nod on the left ahead of regular Jake Bidwell.
"There is competition in certain areas, in other areas we're more stretched," Lampard reasoned. "Sometimes I have to make decisions where I think it's right for the opponent we have, best for the game in front of us. Sometimes it's a decision of keeping people ready, because we need everybody and it's another busy period for us coming up. The next two days will be 'what's best for us?'
"There isn't a concrete decision, it is what it is now. I live by that - how do people train? How are they prepping? Are they ready? If they're ready, then they play. If they play well, they generally stay in. All of those things to think about."
