Wigan Athletic star '˜destined for the top', insists Frank Lampard

And the Derby boss has tipped the Wigan Athletic right-back to fulfill his undoubted potential and make it all the way to the top for club and country.

Lampard has seen first-hand the quality of the on-loan Chelsea youngster, having coached him at Stamford Bridge last season.

And he is in no doubts that James, whose 19th birthday was slightly dampened by Derby’s 1-0 win at the DW Stadium, is something special.

“I think he’s going to be a top player,” Lampard told the Wigan Post.

“He’s already a top young player, and I think he’s going to be a top player.

“It’s great for him to get this opportunity at Wigan, and I notice he’s been player of the month three times in a row which is obviously something!

“That shows how well he’s playing and how much his development is coming on.

“I did a lot of work with the Academy at Chelsea last year and I saw a lot of him, trained with him a lot.

“It was very evident the player he already is - and the player he will hopefully become.”