Jorginho has been told there is a future for him as a key figure in Frank Lampard's Chelsea team - although probably in a different role.

Lampard has been impressed by Jorginho, who was signed by Maurizio Sarri for £57million from Napoli and became a target for discontented fans at Stamford Bridge during last season.

He was booed on as a substitute in a Europa League game against Malmo in February by fans who thought Sarri's stubborn persistence with the Brazil-born Italy international had marginalised N'Golo Kante.

Jorginho pictured volleying a ball during a Chelsea training session in Yokohama this week

'Jorginho became quite a conversation last year,' said Lampard. 'I've been there. As a player, sometimes things are out of your control and the conversation carries on very quickly without you.

'He played in one position and the manager had faith in him and it became something that was talked about, possibly too much, but I'm a new manager. I have some new ideas. We might be more adaptable in the way we play.

'I might ask different things of Jorginho or Kante or Ross Barkley or anybody in the team.

'That's how I want to be. I'm not stuck in a conversation from last year. I'm actually looking at a player who has very much impressed me over the last 10 days and I'm very pleased to have him as part of the squad.'

Not only has the new manager been impressed by Jorginho's undisputed technical talent but also by his attitude and ability to be one of the dressing room leaders.

New Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, pictured on Thursday, has been impressed by Jorginho

'It's not only his quality on the ball,' said Lampard. 'We know all about that from last year, his comfort on the ball and the bravery he shows.

'It's not normal to receive the ball in tight areas and to deal with it - and to keep doing it constantly.

'His attitude in training has also been first class. He's a driver of a session. He's a voice.

'He runs, he pushes people around him, he drags people up when he doesn't feel they're working as much as he might want - and I've loved seeing that.

'So in terms of first impressions, working with him for 10 days, I can't ask for any more. I'm delighted to have him.'