Interim manager Guus Hiddink can see Frank Lampard returning to Chelsea once he has hung his boots up.
The 37-year-old midfielder is seeing out the his playing career in the United States with New York City FC and has one year remaining on his $6million-a-year contract.
Lampard, who remains Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, hasn’t played a single second in the MLS this season though due to a calf problem.
He dropped into Chelsea’s Cobham training complex for treatment on a recent visit back to the UK and Hiddink said it was like he had never been away.
And the Dutchman would not be surprised to see the former England star return to the club in some capacity after he ends his adventure in the Big Apple.
Watch: Frank Lampard tries to guess every Premier League team he's scored against
“I can see that,” Hiddink said of the prospect of Lampard returning to Chelsea.
“He was recently here when he was having his injury. He modestly asked if he could be treated here by our physios. I said of course as he was asking me.
“He wanted to be out of the hours of the players who are normally here, in the evening or afternoon.
“I said ‘no, you are one of this family’ and he loved to come in the day. If those players don’t have that affection to the club then the don’t even come back for the treatment.
“Young players can learn a lot, not every day of course, but they can accelerate their career by having eyes on the career of those big guys.”
Lampard’s old Chelsea pal John Terry had been touted as another potential MLS recruit this summer after revealing in January he would be leaving the club.
Watch: Chelsea reveal John Terry contract offer
A dramatic U-turn by the Blues on Thursday saw Terry hold a meeting with club chiefs and a surprise one-year contract offer was placed on the table.
“He has had his problems with injuries but he’s always there with commitment in training,” Hiddink added of the captain, leader, legend.
“I’ve never had the experience of him taking it easy in training. We play 5 6 a side and when something is wrong he addresses himself to the young guys.
“Players like this are not that rare. There are always players who are early for training with a lot of energy.
“Azpi for example. He loves to go out and encourage them. It’s not just the legends because we don’t undervalue the others like Azpi.
“He’s also challenging now the younger boys. When the legends are doing that it has more impact outside in the publicity.”
