Frank Lampard was encouraged by Chelsea despite their FA Cup semi-final defeat (Picture: BBC)

Frank Lampard hailed the performance of Cole Palmer after the Chelsea star shone against his former club, despite another bitter Wembley defeat.

The England international left his boyhood club in the summer in search of regular first team football having, according to Pep Guardiola, been asking to move for two years.

Palmer has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in England following a goal-laden campaign which sees him rivalling Erling Haaland for an unlikely Golden Boot.

The 21-year-old produced another spellbinding performance at Wembley but ended up on the losing team as City progressed to the final following Bernardo Silva’s late winner.
In spite of another bitter defeat, Lampard saw more encouraging signs from Mauricio Pochettino’s emerging side, especially in the display of Palmer.

He told the BBC: ‘They’ve put in some good performances against the top teams. They did it twice against Manchester City, they did it against Arsenal, they did it against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

‘There’s a good organisation and desire. Over the course of the season they’ve lacked consistency but today you can look at a good all round performance and see those little shoots of positive things and Cole Palmer has just strolled around this pitch and owned this game to a degree.

Cole Palmer shone against his former Ma...