Chelsea legend Frank Lampard could play former side after being loaned out to Manchester City

CHELSEA legend Frank Lampard has joined Manchester City on loan from New York City FC and could line up against his former club.

Frank Lampard, of England, poses with the Manhattan skyline behind him after his introduction as a member of the MLS expansion club New York City FC, Thursday, July 24, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

FRANK Lampard will join Manchester City on a six-month loan from New York City FC, ending any chance of the England midfielder playing in the A-League this season.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed the deal after the Barclays Premier League champion’s friendly win over Olympiakos at the University of Minnesota on Saturday.

“From next week, on Wednesday, he’ll start working with our team,” Pellegrini said.

“At the moment, he will start working with our squad because he is a member of the squad. He will be in the fight for a position. We have a very good team. He is one player more.

Frank Lampard could line up against former teammate John Terry this season.

“We have a lot of competition, especially in the Champions League, so he is very important to our team.”

The 36-year-old former Chelsea star’s new Major League Soccer (MLS) team is backed by Manchester City, who also own the rebranded Melbourne City.

It was suggested that Chelsea’s all-time top scorer could join Spanish star David Villa at A-League club Melbourne City on a short-term loan spell later this year before the MLS kicks off in March next year. Lampard, who spent 13 seasons at Chelsea, could face his former club in the EPL on September 21, Pellegrini confirmed.

Pellegrini says City hasn’t signed Lampard just for fitness, but rather to play.

“I will talk about that with him but he is a player for Manchester City and he will play every game that he needs to play,” he said.

This may raise some eyebrows at Stamford Bridge, with the England midfielder suggesting last year he would not play for another top-flight club in England.

He said in May 2013: “I can’t imagine playing for anyone else after being 12 years at Chelsea. I’ve got a lot of respect for a lot of other Premier League clubs, particularly the top ones, but I’m not sure I could have done that.”

Lampard scored 211 goals in 649 matches for Chelsea, becoming the club’s record goalscorer but was released by Chelsea at the end of the season.

Originally published as Chelsea legend Frank Lampard could play former side after being loaned out to Manchester City