Ross Barkley has revealed Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has told him to take more risks this season.

25-year-old Barkley established himself in the Blues midfield last season under Maurizio Sarri.

A former midfielder with a knack for scoring goals, Lampard wants to see Barkley elevate his game by adding goals and assists.

"As a kid at nine or 10 you get stickers of players, so to go from watching him on Match of the Day to playing with him for England and then have him as a manager... time flies! It shows anything can happen in football," he said.

"He's been saying 'express yourself on the pitch, take risks, don't be too safe, shoot, try to create chances'. It's something I can do and it's what he has been putting into me in training and the pre-season games.

"I've seen what he was capable of as a player when I played with him for England a few years ago. He has brought the work ethic that he had as a player to his management – we have been working really hard.

"You don't want to play in your shell. You want to be playing off the cuff sometimes to take chances and make something happen. That's what players like myself, Mason, Ruben when he's back... that's what we want to express on the pitch.

"As a player you can't be too worried if you take a risk and whether it's not going to come off. You have to try to make things happen and, hopefully, that'll start happening on the pitch. I'm looking forward to taking my chances.

"All managers are like that but some managers like discipline as well, which I have added from previous managers. It's about getting the right balance and knowing on the pitch when is the right time to take risks."