Lampard must fix Chelsea’s leaky defence and changing Kante’s role would plug gaps in short term

CHELSEA’S flying strikers are papering over some serious cracks in the Blues defence.

And unless Frank Lampard can fix these problems quickly, then much of the progress his team are making will be undone against better teams than Southampton.

Their defence will certainly be bolstered by the imminent return of Antonio Rudiger, who has been missing with a groin injury.

Last season he emerged as the club’s best defender, who is good on the ball as well as being assured as a dominant centre-half.

Fikayo Tomori is an outstanding prospect , who has earned his call-up to the full England squad for the upcoming Euro qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

But right now he is just that… a prospect.

Even the return of N’Golo Kante to the starting XI has not made much difference.

The way Yan Valery slipped his way through the Chelsea rearguard to set up Danny Ings for Southampton’s opening goal is a major concern for Lampard.

And they look vulnerable every time they are forced to defend a set piece.

Chelsea conceded more goals from set-pieces than anyone in the Premier League last season except relegated Cardiff.

Under Lampard things have got worse.

The decision to sell David Luiz to Arsenal freed up a place in the squad for Tomori, who could yet prove to be a massive upgrade.

But at the moment they could use an experienced head at the heart of the defence.

One simple fix would be to return Kante to his old role, in front of the back four.

The role that earned him two Premier League medals, with Leicester under Claudio Ranieri and with Chelsea under Antonio Conte.

It was thought that Lampard would do just that, after Maurizio Sarri had played Kante in a more advanced role last season.

But instead Lampard has persisted with it, and like Sarri prefers Jorginho in the more defensive slot.

Playing Kante in the holding role makes the most of his phenomenal ability to read the game and snuff out danger.

However Lampard prefers to play him in a more advanced role, where his ability to nick the ball off the opposition can set up goal chances.

But right now they need him at the back.

Or else one day soon they’ll pay a high price.