Thu 13 January 2005, 12:00
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).
Michael Carrick has revealed the influence Frank Lampard had on his career during their time together at West Ham.
The pair will come face-to-face in central midfield when table-topping Chelsea arrive at the Lane in the Barclays Premiership on Saturday.
Lampard is the driving force in Chelsea's midfield and has cemented his starting place for England.
Turn the clock back to the 2000-01 campaign and Michael, then 19, recalled how Lampard's attitude and commitment to his profession made a mark in what was Michael's breakthrough season.
He said: "I played a season in the first team with Frank and he was always staying behind for extra training and it was good to have that around me because if he did that, I would join in.
"He improved me a lot in that respect. Whether or not he meant to do that I'm not sure but just looking at him and knowing how hard he worked at his game, I always tried to take that on board.
"Hopefully that made me a better player.
"Frank's been Chelsea's main man for a couple of years now and their most consistent player this season.
"He's set his standards so high that he has to do it week in, week out and he's done that.
"He's a regular for England, one of the first names on the teamsheet and that shows just how far he's come.
"Fair play to him because there is no nicer lad around and with the way he's worked as his game, he deserves everything he gets."
