Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

David Silva as good as Eden Hazard and Arjen Robben, says Frank Lampard

David Silva has made 22 Premier League appearances for Man City this season">

Frank Lampard believes David Silva is one of the best footballers he has played with and compared the Spaniard to Gianfranco Zola, Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard.

Lampard, 36, has been a teammate of the World Cup winner at Manchester City this season and Lampard paid a glowing tribute to the younger man.

Chelsea's 211-goal record scorer bracketed Silva alongside three Stamford Bridge favourites and thinks he has the quality to appear for any team in the world.

The former England international, who won 106 caps for his country, said he was impressed both by Silva's technique and his modest personality.

"I'd put him right in the top bracket of the best players I've played with in my career," he told City's official website. "I've been fortunate enough to play alongside players like Gianfranco Zola, Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard among others and he's completely up there with the best.

"From the moment I arrived and started training with him in pre-season I could better appreciate his weight of pass, movement, and his touch and he could play in any team in the world.

"It's been a pleasure to play and train alongside him or even just to watch him. The way he holds himself, too, impresses me because he's one of the most humble top players I've ever come across -- that's something I love because it's refreshing to see.

"To be at the top of your game, have all the medals he has and do what he does week in, week out and yet it's still like he's just coming in, doing his day job and going home."

Silva is enjoying the most prolific season of his career after recording 10 league goals in a campaign for the first time.

Lampard, who has an outstanding goal return from midfield in his career, believes Silva is discovering scoring is an addiction.

"Watching him play from the outside, I'd always had a huge admiration for him as an all-round player," he added.

"The best midfielders in the modern game do score a fair amount of goals and he's undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League.

"Maybe he's just took it upon himself to get in more scoring positions this season or taken more responsibility, but he doesn't ask my advice and it's not as if he ever needs to but it's great to see him chipping in.

"Scoring goals brings confidence in itself and when the goals start going in you get the bug for it."

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