Jody Morris could end up being a better appointment for Derby County than Frank Lampard.

The left-field appointment of Lampard was confirmed last month as the Rams look to spearhead a charge to the Premier League.

The former Chelsea midfielder is embarking on his inaugural season as a manager, and having stayed at the top table of English football for nye on 20 years, taking a step down is going to be no mean feat.

Back in January, Oxford reportedly had talks with Lampard, but to no avail, leaving the 40-year-old free to continue with his media commitments. 

For a club like Derby, who are always the bridesmaid never the bride, in terms of their ever fruitless quest to gain promotion to the Premier League.

But is Lampard the answer?

He is a novice in terms of management, but what is more interesting is the appointment of Jody Morris as Lamps’ assistant.

The 39-year-old has been working with Chelsea’s U18 side for the past three seasons and has won the FA Youth Cup for the last two consecutive seasons.

With him there to aid Lampard and help build his managerial credentials, Morris could be the ultimate mastermind should Derby be successful this campaign.

It is without a doubt that both will have connections to Chelsea if they are to import some young players Morris will obviously know well - and this could be a win-win for both clubs.

For Chelsea, their youth will be getting vital first team experience. And For Derby, Morris will able to cherrypick the creme de la creme of the Blue’s future stars.

Lampard will front the new management team and affectively learn on the job in a dynamic, competitive league.

Morris, however, will keep the machine ticking, only increasing his ever growing stock as one of English football’s most promising young coaches.