Pat Nevin said Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour could be short-term solutions to Chelsea’s creativity crisis amid ongoing injury problems.
So far, the Blues have scored the second-most goals in the Premier League (25), with only Liverpool (27) managing more.
That is a brilliant record which helps showcase the plethora of talents Frank Lampard has in his squad.
But they are not unstoppable, as proved by Everton at the weekend.
Without their three wingers Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic, Lampard was left with few options when things didn’t go to plan at Goodison Park.
Nevin said Chelsea desperately need these “lock-opener” type of players and believes Mount and Gilmour could be alternative creators from midfield during the wingers’ absences.
He told Chelsea’s official website: “When you play away from home and have nearly three-quarters of the possession and then come off after 90-odd minutes and say we hardly created anything special, you know where the problem lies.
“The intelligence, the movement, the skillset and most importantly, the pure ability to think unlike the others, is almost always what you need in these circumstances.
“Let’s hope one or all of these three players [Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi, and Pulisic] are back as soon as possible, or that someone else can take up the mantle in the short term.
New creative sparks from midfield
“Maybe Mason Mount in the number 10 role could do a turn as the creative spark, or possibly Billy Gilmour pushed a little further forward.
“He might have the technical skills from a more central area to slip those cunning passes through.”
Fortunately, Lampard has confirmed that Pulisic is back in the squad ahead of the trip to Wolves.
Although, it would still be very helpful if Mount and Gilmour could become alternative creative outlets.
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