Chelsea boss Frank Lampard challenges Danny Drinkwater to use Burnley loan to get career back on track

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James Olley25 October 2019

Frank Lampard has revealed he spoke with Danny Drinkwater in the wake of his nightclub fracas and warned the midfielder “it is up to him” to get his career back on track.

The 29-year-old joined Burnley on loan from Chelsea in August but has featured just once – in the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland – before suffering a fresh setback off the field last month in an altercation outside the Chinawhite club in Manchester.

Drinkwater suffered an ankle injury in addition to cuts and bruises to his face after being attacked by a gang of men while allegedly drunk on a night out.

The former Leicester star is aiming to revive his fortunes having made just 12 starts in all competitions following his £35million move to Stamford Bridge in August 2017.

Drinkwater is due to resume training next week and ahead of the Blues trip to Turf Moor on Saturday, Lampard said: “In pre-season I worked hard with Danny and I think formed a pretty good relationship.

Drinkwater featured under Lampard in pre-season before his move to Burnley  Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

"I have a duty of care, as a manager coming in here, to work with all the players.

“Danny’s obviously had a tough time here in terms of his career because he hasn’t played as much, particularly last season, and he wanted to play.

"My idea was to be pretty honest with him up front, where we were, where he was, in terms of selection and pecking order and what the best was for Danny. The decision in the end came for him to go to Burnley.

"What’s happened up there I have not got huge control over, albeit I have made contact with him. And then he has been injured. I don’t think it is the story anybody wants. We want him to go there and do well, Burnley want him to do well.

Lampard admits it's up to Drinkwater to save his career  Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

"I think everyone’s approaching it with the right idea trying to do it right and now it is up to Danny, to be fair, himself, to really get his head down, train and do as well as he can because he is our player at the end of the day.”

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