Chelsea boss Frank Lampard believes Tammy Abraham’s prolonged contract negotiations are not affecting his performances.
The 22-year-old reportedly came close to agreeing new terms earlier in the season following a fine start under Lampard.
Abraham has hit 13 Premier League goals but has failed to find the back of the net since a 3-0 win over Burnley on January 11.
His only start since the campaign resumed was in the defeat at West Ham last week – otherwise he has played second fiddle to the more experienced Olivier Giroud.
Lampard has put a lot of faith in his talented batch of youngsters and they have been largely successful, with Chelsea sitting fourth in the table.
The likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori have all signed new contracts over the past year.
Abraham has yet to follow suit and he has just under two years remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge.
“I think Tammy’s contract, we are not at a critical level with it,” Lampard said on the eve of the Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.
“I will leave it with him and the club to discuss that side of it. I don’t think it is something that is clearly in his mind now, at least it shouldn’t be.
“What needs to be in his mind now is these games we have coming up and how much he can give us on the pitch, whether coming on as a sub or starting the game.”
Lampard has also told Abraham to keep working hard in training to force his way back into the Blues side.
“He has had a really good season, he hasn’t scored as much in the second half of the season,” added Lampard.
“But as a young player it is always clear when you have these periods there is only one way out of it and that is work and repetition in training.
“I think that is where Tammy is at. I think the contract will hopefully look after itself between him and the club and he just needs to focus on giving us that Tammy that we had earlier in the season.
”He was giving defenders so much of a problem in games and scoring regularly and it all came from how he was training and working in the week.
“That is just what he has to sustain all the time.”
