Alex Iwobi has been a labelled a 'very talented player' by Chelsea's record goalscorer Frank Lampard ahead of Everton's Premier League clash with Southampton.

The Nigeria international is pushing for a place in the starting lineup after delivering perhaps one of his best games for Everton to date in their 3-0 rout of Leeds United in the last round of matches.

Under manager Rafael Benítez, Iwobi was in and out of the starting lineup, making eight starts in the Premier League before linking up with the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Everton boss Lampard says he's delighted with Iwobi and hailed him for his defensive contribution and work rate against Leeds United.

On what he said to Iwobi since arriving that contributed to his performance last weekend, Lampard told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday : "Alex alone performed like that, I just gave him the platform and opportunity to play, pick him in the team and the reason I picked him was because of how he trained, he trained really well in the two weeks I've been here.

"He's a quiet lad, he's a very talented player. I knew that and his teammates know that and sometimes it's the time to give him confidence and belief so those are the sort of small exchanges I've had with him so he feels it from me, and then the rest is up to him.

"I was particularly pleased with his physical output and his defensive work for the team which you know in a 4-4-2 as we were last week, on the side of midfield against Leeds is a real big shift and he put it in and felt like he could run on for another 90 minutes".