Will Chelsea let Frank Lampard's Derby loan stars return to haunt them on Halloween?
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Updated 01/10/2018 at 10:09 GMT
Seldom has there been so much excitement around a League Cup fourth-round pairing. Dan Levene looks ahead to the return of Frank Lampard, and a host of others, to Stamford Bridge.
Derby County's Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Bradley Johnson celebrate after winning the penalty shootout
Image credit: Reuters
It had to happen.
From the moment Derby County ended Manchester United's chances of early-season silverware at Old Trafford, the buzz was on.
And the draw of the League Cup, no matter how delayed (to 9pm Saturday in the end), and no matter what the sponsor-imposed razzmatazz, did not disappoint.
Frank Lampard's fledgling managerial career has had a mixed kick-off at Pride Park.
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Frank Lampard manager of Derby County (C) flanked by Assistant manager Jody Morris (L) and First Team Coach Chris Jones (R) during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Preston North End at Pride Park Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Derby,
Image credit: Getty Images
Presently ninth in the Championship table, with five wins and four defeats from ten matches, acclimatisation hasn't been an entirely smooth process.
But Tuesday night penalty-wins at Old Trafford are the stuff of legend: and the added narrative of imperilled master Jose Mourinho, being defeated by one-time pupil Lampard, only strengthened the story.
Derby fans, therefore, will not be phased by a likely Wednesday night trip to Stamford Bridge. But there are a number of matters to be ironed-out before then which will only serve to develop this tantalising tale.
As well as the man a good number of Chelsea fans see as the club's greatest ever servant, The Rams are coached by former Blues midfielder Jody Morris.
There were moments of the west Londoner's playing career which unquestionably occupy the pages of Chelsea legend (a notable one also involving Manchester United), but it is his secondary career in the dugout which has brought most joy.
He drove the club's youth side to huge success: and with two of his former trophy-winning charges presently on-loan with Derby, there is the prospect of four local heroes being involved in that coming League Cup tie.
Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori have made a great impression at Derby so far this season: and both would likely be in Lampard's side against Chelsea, just as they were in his XI to face United.
But only if Chelsea let them.
For the rules of the competition, unlike those in the Premier League, allow on-loan players to feature against their parent club.
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Jose Mourinho (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Derby County)
Image credit: Getty Images
The qualifier is that the terms set down by the parent club, either in the original loan deal or in subsequent administrative dealings, must specifically give permission for such a turn of events to occur. The content of that loan deal is not, at present, clear.
Chelsea have been here before with on-loan players.
This situation is most similar to that involving Thibaut Courtois at the time of the 2012 UEFA Super Cup.
The rules of that competition left his involvement for Atletico Madrid up to the discretion of Chelsea: and they ultimately decided it would be good for his development as a player.
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Courtois detiene un balón durante el Real Madrid-Atlético
Image credit: Getty Images
The situation two years later, when Courtois played for Atletico against Chelsea in the both legs of the Champions League semi-final were different: on that occasion UEFA instructed Chelsea that he must be able to play.
And comparisons with Tomori's own case last season, while on loan at Hull City, are also slightly wide of the mark: on that occasion he did not feature in a fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge, as it was expressly prohibited by the rules of the FA Cup.
Whatever Chelsea decide about Mount and Tomori, it will doubtless cause controversy.
But with the whole point of the loan system, as Chelsea primarily use it, being to develop young talent: this game surely offers a great opportunity to extend exactly those aims.
Regardless: with Chelsea fans licking their lips over returning heroes, and followers of Derby tasting another giant-killing in the water, this meeting is in need of no extra hype.
The date upon which the match is likely to be scheduled: 31 October.
That means Lampard and Morris, and possibly Mount and Tomori are due to come trick or treating on Halloween. Don't have nightmares.
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