Frank Lampard tipped for England job as former Premier League manager says ‘it just shines through’
CHRIS WILDER believes Frank Lampard should be in the running to be next England boss.
The two managers go head-to-head in a bumper Championship promotion clash when Sheffield United host Coventry on Friday night.
Chelsea legend Lampard took over the Sky Blues in November, his fifth job in management, when they were just two points above the relegation zone.
Now he takes them to the Blades sitting fifth and among the favourites to clinch a play-off spot.
Wilder said: “I’ve got an enormous amount of respect for Frank Lampard, I honestly have.
“His playing career is there for everybody to see but I just love the fact that he loves football and it just shines through.
“He took a tough job at Derby and got through to a play-off final and we had a couple of great games with them in that season and he had an outstanding run at it.
“Tough gig at Chelsea when they didn’t sign any players and he had to play a lot of young players. Tough gig at Everton.
“I don’t think he gets the credit that he deserves, I honestly don’t.
“People talk about England managers and people are critical of him, I just don’t get it. He can quite easily manage England.
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“The job he’s doing at Coventry, he didn’t have to do it, but he wants to get his hands dirty.
“He loves football, he loves the changing room, he loves everything about football. So I’m a big fan.”
Meanwhile, Wilder’s Blades are locked in a three-horse chase for automatic promotion with Leeds and Burnley.
A victory against Coventry would take them three points clear of Leeds, who host Swansea, and five ahead of Burnley, and he insists he is relishing every second of the run-in.
Wilder said: “We have to embrace and enjoy this, and that’s everybody from staff to players to supporters.
“We really have to enjoy it because there’s plenty of times where you have dark days in football and these clubs have had a few dark days over the years and even recently. So when the sun shines, you’ve got to enjoy it.
“The full focus now is onto the last eight games and taking the next one in our stride.”
With a sold-out crowd set to cheer them on, Wilder also called for fans to help his players “get over the line” in the promotion race.
He added: “The team really deserves and needs a massive push from, from the punters.
“I know I’ve always said it’s up to the players to set the tone, but the players need the help now to get over the line and I know they’ll do everything they can to help us.
“I’m sure they’ll be as loud as they’ll ever have been at Bramall Lane on Friday to make that a tough place to come.”