'Lamps' lights up the Premiership

Picasso's problem
Of course everything is relative and if the midfielder had not quite announced himself on the season's return with the same authority that he had left the old one in May, it was only because he had set himself such towering standards. Not even Picasso could produce a masterpiece every time.

No more debate
Now, as the campaign begins to settle down and the UEFA Champions League enters the second half of the group stage, the debate over Lampard's form has long disappeared into cold storage. A string of immaculate displays, underpinned by a consistent goals return has restored the Londoner to his place as the undisputed king of the English midfield performers.

Mourinho's assessment
Many will argue that there is nobody filling the same role across Europe who can reach the same heights so consistently but José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, goes even further, saying that Lampard has every right to be considered the best in the world.

'Top in every game'
"You have some great players in the world but they play one good game a month," Mourinho said following Chelsea's 4-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers FC at the weekend which maintained their nine-point Premiership lead. "This player [Lampard] is top in every game."

Midfield perfection
In an analysis of the perfect midfielder Lampard, who has been short-listed for the European Footballer of the Year award, ticks all the boxes. He has the surest of touches with his distribution, both short and, more spectacularly, long - sweeping the ball from his central station to either flank to feed Chelsea's wing raiders.

All-round brilliance
He scores goals on a regular basis, two more against Blackburn taking him to ten in the league and well clear of his nearest challengers in the scoring charts. He tackles with fierce determination and his stamina is legendary. He pops up in all four corners of the pitch and then reappears for the next game fresh and eager to do it all again.

Consecutive appearances
Lampard also has the happy knack of managing to steer clear of injuries. Incredibly his run of successive league appearances now stands at 156 with just four more needed to create a new record.

England role
Such is his stature in the game that he has overshadowed Steven Gerrard to be recognised as England's most influential midfielder, trusted with penalty-taking duties now that David Beckham has decided to relinquish the responsibility. In an analysis of the pair's relative merits, David Pleat, the former Tottenham Hotspur FC manager and respected pundit, said he would favour the Chelsea man.

Pleat consideration
"Lampard really impresses me with his short and long passing and also his disguised passing, looking to the right and then switching play to the left," Pleat said. "Gerrard has more physical attributes but what is so impressive about Lampard as well is that he never misses a game, he wants to play and give his all every time."