Former Premier League ace Chris Sutton has said that Frank Lampard is facing a tough test of his credentials with Chelsea, who are currently under a transfer ban. The Blues made their worst-ever start to the Premier League season last weekend as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton said that Lampard has got a tough job on his hands with the Blues, considering they are no longer possessing the talents of Eden Hazard. He added that Lampard will continue to get the backing from the board amid the transfer embargo but it remains to be seen whether he would get the same treatment from the fans, should things continue to go in the wrong direction.

“Frank Lampard has one hell of a job on after the club lost their best player,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club. “Hazard carried them for years but he’s gone and they can’t bring players in. It all comes down to what the owner’s expectation is and what Lampard has been told at the start of the season. The fans being behind Lampard will only last for so long.”

Chelsea impressed with a dominant attacking performance during the opening 10 minutes at Old Trafford but they could not take advantage with the chances up for grabs. United thereafter were gifted with the opening goal through a penalty and they managed to hold onto the lead until the break. Following the interval, Lampard’s men again pushed for the equaliser but they were eventually outdone by the hosts on the counter-attack with three goals in the space of 14 minutes.

Despite the setback, Lampard can take heart from the fact that the Blues were the better side for nearly an hour of the game where they were lacking the cutting edge to make the difference. Lampard needs to quickly regroup his team, considering they have another tough challenge against Liverpool in the European Super Cup on Wednesday night.