Rio Ferdinand has revealed what Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said to him about the signing of Hakim Ziyech.

His electric performance against Sheffield United at the weekend showed just what he will bring to the side, a talisman winger who can be a real match winner.

His range of passing is superb and the wand of a left foot makes the £34m fee seem like a snip of a price.

The former Manchester United defender told FIVE Youtube Channel: “I spoke to Frank [Lampard] just after he [Ziyech] signed and he picked up his injury and he was majorly disappointed.

“He [Lampard] said: ‘Rio this guy is the guy that can unlock things. If it’s tight in a game, he’s the one especially away from home in the big games he can unlock things’.

“He has the personality, he wants to try things. He can give it away six times on the bounce but he’ll still try that outlandish pass to create an opening.

“That’s what Frank likes and that’s what the team needed.”

Ferdinand even argued that Ziyech may have had “the best left foot in the league”.

“For a forward, for Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham, and the others, they must be looking back and thinking: ‘I’ll make a run, this guy will find me’,” he added.

Christian Pulisic has left the USA squad to return to Chelsea for treatment on his hamstring injury.

The American will play no role in the upcoming international with Wales despite joining his teammates at their training base.

And Pulisic will continue his rehab with the Blues after missing their last three wins.

The winger will also miss America’s game with Panama on Monday after returning to Frank Lampard’s Blues.

USA manager Greg Berhalter said: “Christian Pulisic is leaving camp tonight.

“He had a great three or four days with the team and he was able to get treatment, be with the guys and connect with the staff again.

“It was great to see him. Unfortunately he won’t be taking part in the match. He’s a player that we are certainly going to miss and with his quality we wish we could have him on the field but that’s not going to happen.”

But Berhalter refused to say when Pulisic will be ready to return for Lampard’s men.

Berhalter added: “It’s hard for me to speculate on that. I know he’s returning to Chelsea and he will be training with them.

“He was doing some on-field work with us as well. He’s making a lot of progress. The one thing I do know is that he is putting absolutely everything into it. I really admire that about Christian.

“He’s so focussed on getting back on the field and all he wants to do is help the club and help his country. You can hear that when you talk to him but also in his actions.

“He’s working extremely hard and getting treatment three times a day. He’s focused on getting back and getting better.”

France manager Didier Deschamps has revealed why he chose Kurt Zouma over Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte and RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano.

He said: “There’s competition everywhere.

“Kurt has been with us for a while, he’s been called up many times but hasn’t played that much.

“If I pick him it’s because I think he’s better than the other people because of what he’s doing at Chelsea.

“He had a few injuries in a row but now he’s been very fit for a while, he’s very calm, so he’s here.”

Deschamps added: “If you’re asking why I picked those four central defenders, I have to choose.

“We have three games in nine days so obviously everybody will play, including Kurt.”

Deschamps insisted the ‘door is not closed’ on Upamecano ahead of next summer’s delayed European Championships.

“He was with us before. He’s going through a more difficult moment,” he continued.

“He knows he can do better. He was quite emotional during his first call-up in September, and in October as well.

“He’s a young player and he has the potential. He’s playing many games.

“Of course, if it’s not him, it’s another, it’s about the competition. Kurt Zouma in that case, who’s doing very well, he’s a starter at Chelsea and he knows the French team as well.

“The door is not closed. I make that choice today because it’s logical to me. ‘Will it be the same in March and June? It’s the same thing for all of the players who were not called but can hope to be in the national team.”

Manchester United have been handed a blow with Luke Shaw out for up to six weeks.

The left-back picked up a knock in Saturday’s win at Everton, forcing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer into a substitution late in the game.

Shaw suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out until Christmas.

The setback comes amid one of the 25-year-old’s longer runs in the United team.

Shaw had played every minute of the Premier League campaign until the injury.

Mason Mount has refuted suggestions that he is a ‘teacher’s pet’ to either Gareth Southgate or his Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

Mount said: “No not at all. I’m a player that wants to do their best for the team and work hard. And maybe people take that the wrong way.

“When you join England, you’re with world-class players and you want to show what you can do. That’s my focus and I’ve never felt like that (a teacher’s pet) really.

“I really don’t look at social media much so it doesn’t bother me.

“I think the most important people in your life are going to help you, so I listen to them. That’s what I’ve always done.

“I’m very headstrong and I don’t really let too many things get to me.”

Glen Johnson believes Gareth Southgate is right in picking Mason Mount over Jack Grealish and James Maddison for England.

Former Chelsea right-back explains that despite being Aston Villa’s main man, but when Grealish “goes to the England camp he’s not the main man.”

He told Compare Bet: “At the moment, I think he’s (Southgate) probably getting it right picking Mount.

“But look, in terms of what Grealish can do, of course, we’ve seen him in fantastic form, but it’s a difficult one.

“With Grealish, he’s Villa’s main man and loves being the main man, but when he goes to the England camp he’s not the main man.

“So he’s got to adapt the way he plays and when he learns to do that, then I think he’ll certainly climb the ladder in Southgate’s pecking order.”

Former Blues winger Willian has admitted his regret over a controversial social media post about Antonio Conte in the aftermath of Chelsea’s 2018 FA Cup final triumph.

Brazil winger Willian was handed only one minute off the bench by Conte in the final and clashed with the former Blues boss over a lack of game time towards the end of his two seasons in charge.

Though Chelsea lifted the FA Cup after a 1-0 win over Manchester United, their celebrations were marred as Willian posted a photo of the squad with emojis positioned to obscure Conte.

While Willian is not proud of his actions, he believes Conte struggled with man management and their poor relations inevitably contributed to the Italian’s departure.

“When I saw that picture of the whole team, something happened in my mind,” Willian told the Daily Mail .

“I just don’t know what. I just knew that if he stayed at the club I would have to leave. It wasn’t possible to work with him again.

“So I decided to do the picture. I didn’t expect it to go ‘bang’ everywhere after five minutes. But then everyone in Brazil was talking about it, and in England.

“I was thinking: ‘Why have I done this?’ but by then I couldn’t delete it. It was too late!

“Conte was actually a good coach. We won the title. But the way he managed the team was different. You have to know that I am not the same as Diego [Costa] or David [Luiz] and they are not the same as me.

“Everyone has a different personality. With some you can go strong, others you can’t. He didn’t understand that.