Timing couldn't be worse for Frank Lampard's return to the Bridge

Pat Nevin, the former Chelsea and Scotland star, is an avowed admirer of Frank Lampard, but fears the one-time Stamford Bridge hero has walked back into a venue where he was once idolised at completely the wrong time.

Lampard was lured back to Chelsea after guiding Derby to the Sky Bet Championship playoffs in just his first season in management and Nevin believes that even a top-six finish cannot be guaranteed.

"The way Frank timed his runs into the box as a player was the best I ever saw,” says the Scot. "His timing at coming to Chelsea, however, couldn’t be worse.

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"You can’t replace Eden Hazard – that’s beyond question. And he can’t buy any players because of the transfer embargo.

"The fans will give him time because Frank means that much to them, and you’d like to think the board will as well. But they’re not renowned for their patience.

"If Frank can get Chelsea near the top four it will go down as an incredible achievement. Yet given the sale of their best player and the inability to buy any new ones, you’d actually be hard pressed to say top six.

"I'm disappointed Maurizio Sarri didn’t get more time. I liked Sarri, I was a fan of Sarriball and I thought the end results – winning the Europa League, a penalty kick away from winning the League Cup, third place in the Premier League – weren’t as poor as his critics made out.

"The supporters never warmed to him yet he delivered and many of his players will still be influential for Frank.

Frank Lampard: if he can guide Chelsea anywhere near the top four it would be an incredible achievement says Pat NevinCredit: Charles McQuillan (Getty Images)

"I'm a colossal admirer of Jorginho, who is the heartbeat of that side alongside N'Golo Kante. Defensively they were fine last season and this could turn into a breakthrough season for Tammy Abraham, who has the potential to become the next Didier Drogba. Olivier Giroud is great at what he does, but he’s not a 25-goal-a-season man.

"There are also youngsters in the shape of Callum Hudson-Odoi – when he’s fit – and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who will also become more integral.

"But what they’ve lost in the sale of Hazard cannot be replaced. And I don’t just mean the 16 goals and 15 assists. Chelsea were simply a better team with him playing.”

While Nevin suggests a turbulent season could be on the cards at Chelsea, Arsenal, the team thrashed by Sarri’s men in the Europa League final in May, might represent the better punting option to finish in the top four.

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The Gunners are the least fancied of the big six with the bookmakers but Nevin can see progress, especially with question marks over both Chelsea and Manchester United.

"Much depends on how the rest of the transfer window maps out but I would envisage Arsenal being stronger than last season," he says.

"If they get Kieran Tierney they are instantly improved. I love Tierney and he’s more than good enough to star in the Premier League. He is a left-back but can also play on the left of a three, or even the left of a two. He’d even flourish at right-back.

"In fact I would have Tierney over Andrew Robertson and we know how good he has been for Liverpool.

"It’s typical, isn’t it? Scotland wait years for world-class players and then they get two in the same position.

Kieran Tierney: if Arsenal sign the Celtic defender they will be instantly improved says Pat NevinCredit: Ian MacNicol (Getty Images)

"Scoring goals will not be an issue at the Emirates where they are blessed to have a duo in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. And someone like Matteo Guendouzi, having had a season to settle, will only get better.

"Arsenal are being slightly underrated in my opinion. United are harder to call and much depends on how the Harry Maguire transfer scenario plays out. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a good signing, although I’d still rather have Tierney, but it’s the camaraderie at Old Trafford which could define their season – looking in from the outside it just doesn’t look as close as it is at either City or Liverpool.

"As for Spurs – Tanguy Ndombele looks a great signing and they can cope without Kieran Trippier. They’ll be knocking on the top-four door once again."

With doubts apparent over the claims of the supposed big six, Nevin thinks it is more likely than usual that one of the division’s lesser lights can break through this season – and he fancies one of his former clubs to make that leap.

“Everton are a centre-back away from being excellent,” says Nevin, who spent four years at Goodison Park in the late 1980s and early '90s.

"I liked what I saw of Wolves when I watched them on TV and I liked them even more when I saw them live, when you get a chance to study them closely. I don’t see any issues with this being their second season.

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“But Everton, with some consistency, can bridge the gaps. There were times last season when they played opponents off the park, other times they were horrible.

“If I was Marco Silva I’d be scouring the Italian top division for a centre-back who can come in and offer that authority they need at the back. Fabian Delph is a good signing, alongside Andre Gomes.”

No stopping Manchester City

The Premier League was treated to a title race like no other last season when Manchester City and Liverpool went toe to toe all the way to the wire, and Pat Nevin is anticipating something very similar unfolding again.

The Scottish flyer turned pundit also believes that, as with last term, those two are so far clear of the rest that once again we can expect a two-horse race.

"I’d be surprised if any other club can get within ten points of those two,” says Nevin.

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"I’ve been hugely impressed by what Jurgen Klopp has done at Anfield and I think Liverpool are fantastic – and that’s coming from a former Chelsea and Everton player!

"You kept questioning whether they had the strength in depth and they kept on going. It was extraordinary.

"It was noticeable that Klopp didn’t deploy the high press quite as much last season and that’s not a huge surprise, especially after a World Cup summer. Players simply wouldn’t have seen the season out.

"But the intensity will be expected again and there have been players away on international duty. Okay, it won’t bother Virgil van Dijk, but how much more can be asked of Mohamed Salah, who has just returned from the African Cup of Nations? I don’t know.

"I’m sticking with City to just take the title again.

"Much has been made of Vincent Kompany’s exit and trying to replace the seemingly irreplaceable. It’s not the personnel loss but the personality loss which could be an issue, because Kompany is an exceptional leader. But they’ve got excellent central defenders and I don’t see them weakening.

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League trophy but Pat Nevin thinks Pep Guardiola's team can cope without their defensive stalwartCredit: Michael Regan (Getty Images)

"Throughout that side they have leaders and inspirational figures – Fernandinho and Kevin de Bruyne have strong personalities.

"And Pep Guardiola will demand only a repeat of what has gone before. He is a perfectionist and I don’t see City’s standards dropping even if a couple of names on the teamsheet have changed."

At the other end of the table Sheffield United are odds-on to go straight back down, and Nevin cannot disagree with the bookmakers.

"I can't see it but if Chris Wilder can keep United up he should be given an MBE, OBE, CBE, the lot, because it would represent an amazing feat," he says.

"I saw them a few times last season and they are nice and bright but never did I sit there thinking this is a group of players that would survive in the Premier League.

"Aston Villa will do better than Sheffield United and Norwich – prepare to be impressed by Villa midfielder John McGinn, who is poised to shine at this level – and I can see Brighton being one of the two other clubs to escort the Blades down.

"Brighton were on the slide last season and that slide may not have finished just yet."

Rangers to push Celtic close

Celtic’s grip on the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership title could be a little shakier this season with rivals Rangers set to mount a genuine challenge, according to Nevin.

The Glasgow giants clashed four times in league action last season with two wins apiece and the ex-Scotland international believes that has to give the Light Blues hope they can close the gap.

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"I was at each of the Old Firm games last season and thought that Rangers gave Celtic a real bloody nose," he says.

"A lot was asked of Stevie Gerrard at Ibrox but he delivered and there’s the sense there’s more to come.

"They were stronger when Steve Davis arrived last winter and players will jump at the chance to play under Gerrard.

Leigh Griffiths: the striker's return could give Celtic the edge in the Ladbrokes Scottish PremiershipCredit: Ian MacNicol (Getty Images)

"Rangers have strengthened and so too have Celtic and it’s going to be closer than it has been for years, but do you know what I think will give Neil Lennon’s men that edge? The return of Leigh Griffiths.

"Leigh has had well-chronicled problems and it was very emotional watching him score against Kalju in the Champions League. It meant so much to him and meant an awful lot to Celtic fans who know how significant it would be to have a mentally fit and firing Griffiths back in the side.

"Rangers can push Celtic all the way and both should be some distance clear of Aberdeen, who can take third."

Nevin's nuggets (July 29)
Manchester City to win Premier League
Arsenal top-four finish
Everton top-six finish
Aston Villa top promoted club
Sheffield United to be relegated
Brighton to be relegated

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