Lampard relishing chance to link up with Hazard at Chelsea

The 33-year-old believes the Blues' new signing will bring some much-needed youth to the squad, and is anticipating a tough test for England against Belgium at Wembley on Saturday

May 30, 2012 3:36:00 PM

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Frank Lampard has revealed his excitement at Chelsea’s acquisition of Belgian starlet Eden Hazard, who eventually opted to join the Blues on Monday evening.

The 21-year-old had seemed destined for Manchester, with both City and United believed to be leading the race to sign him from Ligue 1 side Lille, yet the attacker opted for a move to Stamford Bridge following the west Londoner’s Champions League victory.
Lampard has since hailed Hazard as a “very top player”, and believes the injection of further youth into the Chelsea squad can only be a positive.
The 33-year-old told reporters: "It is very exciting to hear the news. I haven't seen much French football but everyone I speak to says he is a very top player, a very top young player.
"If he can bring that youth and hunger and ability into our team, then he'll be very welcome.
"Joe Cole knows him very well and spent a year at Lille with him.
"Talking about those type of players, Joe is very honest and knowledgeable and he has been very impressed with him."
While Lampard’s participation in England’s pre-Euro 2012 friendly with Belgium at Wembley is in doubt due to a thigh injury, he is expecting a tough test from a side that boasts the likes of Hazard as well as Premier League duo Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen.
He said: "We were talking over lunch about the quality players Belgium have now.
"Maybe in recent years they haven't been seen as one of the top nations.
"But when you think of the quality players playing around England and Europe at the moment in their team, they are going to provide a very tough game for us."