Frank Lampard said Chelsea's transfer embargo did not force him to play red-hot young forward Tammy Abraham, who is set for his Champions League debut on Tuesday after surging to the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts, reports AFP.
Abraham, 21, hit a hat-trick against Wolves on Saturday to take his league tally to seven for the season, level with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, ahead of Valencia's visit to Stamford Bridge.
With Chelsea currently banned from bringing in new players, Lampard has relied heavily on Abraham and fellow youngsters Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori.
But the Blues boss said he always believed the time was right for Abraham, who had spells on loan with Bristol City, Swansea and Aston Villa, to be handed his chance with Chelsea this term.
"I never had clear expectations for him, only the fact that I believed in him and trusted in him," Lampard told reporters on Monday.
"I know a lot has been made about the ban giving young players opportunities but I felt the time was right for Tammy to have his opportunity at this club anyway, because of the quality he has got.
"I'm really delighted that he has got his goals. I think there's even more to come.
"He's in a good place, a place that just requires him to sustain and improve even more and I think with his mentality and the way he is every day I hope to see that."
Abraham will likely start against Valencia on what will be Lampard's first Champions League match as manager.
Lampard, who lifted the Champions League as a Chelsea player in 2012, said: "I'll be proud to do it. I had multiple incredible nights in the Champions League and some bad ones and it is the ultimate in club football for me."