Frank Lampard backs Raheem Sterling to show he is still one of the world’s best wingers

Interim boss Frank Lampard has backed Raheem Sterling to prove he is still one of the world’s best against Real Madrid.

The England striker has struggled since his move from Manchester City for £47.5 million.

Lampard remembered Sterling in his first game back, but the wideman couldn’t prevent Chelsea losing 1-0 at Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sterling has scored just seven goals this season, but scored the crucial opener in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League last month.

They head to Real Madrid on Wednesday for the quarter-final first leg and Lampard expects 28-year-old Sterling to take another step forward.

It was a difficult first day of training for Lampard, whose side were beaten 1-0 by Wolves

“Raheem has been there and done it and there is a history of producing,” he said. “I think he’s a fantastic player. He has long been one of the best wingers in the world, sometimes, perhaps some say, the best.

“He has played such matches in the past, so of course we will rely on that, because some elements of the squad may be a bit younger.”

“He is certainly a high level player and a high level of competence and understanding of the game that it will not surprise him.

“I can’t remember how many times I referred to young wingers when I was here before at Chelsea, at Derby and Everton – look at Sterling and see why he scores over 20 goals a season. So in that sense I have the highest feeling for him.

“I just think he’s a top player. Those things are always about 50/50 for me – getting the structure right for the player and then the player himself, but Raheem showed what kind of player he is.’

Lampard won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 as they finished sixth on a disappointing top-flight season, with Roberto Di Matteo replacing Andre Villas-Boas in March.

Sterling played 67 minutes during that loss to Wolves but failed to find the back of the net

The loss is a continuation of Chelsea’s recent woes with the Blues sitting 11th in the table

However, he admitted there is no secret to producing in Europe, despite domestic problems, after Matheus Nunes snatched Premier League points for Wolves at Molineux with a stunning goal.

He added: “There is a lot involved. Part of that was we parked the bus at the Nou Camp and managed to hang on for dear life! There are so many things, fate at different times.

“But we did have a huge desire and a great character and a level of talent in the group that has been aiming to win a Champions League for years, so the one you remember.

“The one you don’t remember is when we were knocked out by Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge (in 2010), things like that. So a team and a group will always go through difficult moments to achieve great ones.’