Duke of Cambridge awards Frank Lampard OBE for services to football

Frank Lampard has backed Jose Mourinho to steady the ship at Chelsea.

Frank Lampard was awarded an "Officer of Order of the British Empire" (OBE) by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William on Tuesday, October 27 for his services to football. His record says that and it will be hurting him.

"With Jose Mourinho in charge, the squad they've got, the talent they've got on the pitch and the club that Chelsea is now - I don't see any  way that they won't turn it around".

The football star, who now plays for American team New York City FC, said he had discussed his Chelsea career with the Duke, whom he described as an "incredible man". It's a blip. You don't expect them to lose that many games at the start of the season, but they'll turn it around.

Champions Chelsea are sixth from bottom after losing five of their 10 Premier League matches this season and Mourinho has come under increasing fire for his repeated run-ins with match officials and the FA.

"Maybe players are out of form a little bit, but you're talking about top quality players, a top quality manager and a top club, so it's just a matter of time before they turn it around".

But the veteran feels a title challenge may now be beyond Chelsea after their poor start: "Whether they can go and win the league again...it'll be very hard".

Chelsea has made their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1978 after the west London side dropped to 15th in the Premier League table following 11 points from a possible 30. "But they'll be back".

Lampard, 37, began his career at West Ham and not long after making his debut, he won his first full cap for England in 1999 - going on to win 105 more. It was surreal. We flew back from New York last night.