Everton represents a “very good opportunity” for Frank Lampard according to Ralph Hasenhuttl, with the Austrian stating that the Merseyside outfit are “a club with potential”.

Lampard and Everton visit St Mary’s this weekend, taking charge of just his fourth game at the helm of the Goodison Park outfit.

The former Derby and Chelsea boss took a year out of football after his dismissal at Stamford Bridge, with his opposite number at Saints believing the former England star made the right decision in showing patience in the job market.

Speaking of Lampard, Hasenhuttl said: It’s not so easy to step back into the market in the Premier League because they’re are not so many jobs on the market.

“Then you would want to have a club where you can develop things.

“I think Frank, it seems, took his time to select well.”

A common narrative surrounding Lampard’s time at the Blues has arisen since his departure in January 2021, with some saying that a job of the size and magnitude of a club like Chelsea was too much for the relatively inexperienced Lampard.

It appears Hasenhuttl agrees with this assessment, stating: “It’s always a difficult thing when you immediately step into a very big club like he did with Chelsea.

“It was his second job after Derby.

“My feeling always that if you want to step into one of the best clubs in the world, you have to be on the highest level of your managing quality. Then it makes sense.”

With speculation over his future rife due to comments made about potentially retiring in 2024, Hasenhuttl reflected that perhaps the chance to manage a big club had passed him by.

“This was my way that I wanted to go. Maybe it will never happen, this is not a problem for me.

“But if you want to go there, you should be on the highest level of your knowledge.

“Then it’s always tough after Chelsea to pick the next one.

“But I think for him, it was a very a good opportunity now.

It’s a club with potential, with history and a good opportunity. I’m sure he’ll have a good impact.