Frank Lampard has dismissed suggestions Chelsea’s squad is past it – and is adamant there is more to come from the Barclays Premier League champions.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men have started the new campaign the way they finished the last one with three successive victories, including 6-0 demolitions of both West Brom and Wigan while they are yet to concede a goal.

Much has been made of the age of the Blues’ senior men, such as Lampard, 32, captain John Terry, 29, and striker Didier Drogba, who will be 33 in March.

However, England midfielder Lampard – who is currently sidelined by a hernia problem which forced him out of tonight’s opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria at Wembley (England 1.25, Bulgaria 12.00, draw 5.50 Full Time Result) – rejects any suggestions the Chelsea players are over the hill.

Speaking to the October edition of the club’s official magazine, Lampard declared: “It is a load of rubbish when I hear talk about there only being one or two years left in our spine. This has been going on for a year or so.

Every year I set my goals again, I don’t lose any ambition or drive.

Frank Lampard

“Sometimes that is mind games from other managers or press talk and we proved them wrong last year.

“We have got players here who are experienced and you can’t buy experience in football – look at Didier, he is a specimen and he will overpower any 24 or 25-year-old.

“People have been waxing lyrical about Paul Scholes, and rightly so, because if you take him out of the United team now, they will want to replace him and they probably won’t be able to.”

Lampard may have a trophy cabinet full of honours, but the former West Ham trainee maintains he is hungry for even more success.

“Every year I set my goals again, I don’t lose any ambition or drive,” Lampard insisted.

“I would love to win the Champions League one day, but I would love to win more Premier League titles as well, so it’s quite easy to self-motivate.

“I think also that, the older you get, the more you appreciate what you have got as a footballer.

“I think it’s one of my strong points that I always want to do more because you don’t play forever.

“If I can keep my level up to the way I am playing now I believe I can go on playing for many more years.”

With 14 goals from the opening three Premier League matches, things are certainly going to plan for Chelsea, who saw experienced midfielders Joe Cole and Michael Ballack leave the club on free transfers during the summer.

“I think our game feels more natural now – you can see that from the way we finished last season and started this one,” Lampard reflected.

“Don’t get me wrong, we had difficult moments last season when it wasn’t flowing, but it became more natural to us and after winning the Double and celebrating that, I think we came back here in the summer wanting to step up again to another level.”

Lampard paid tribute to Ancelotti, who delivered the club a historic Double in his first season.

“The manager is very involved – his method, his training, his personality and his calmness is something the players have related to more and more over the last year or so and that’s making us stronger as a unit,” the midfielder said.

You can back Chelsea to win the Premier League 2010/11 at odds of 2.20, while it’s 6.00 for the Blues to win the UEFA Champions League in 2011.

View all Soccer betting

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has backed new signing Franco Di Santo to succeed in the Premier League despite the striker so far struggling to establish himself in England.

The Brazil Under-20 international joined the Latics on a three-year deal from Chelsea minutes before the transfer deadline closed on Tuesday.

It is important that from all the young players we are developing here we get rewards.

Roberto Martinez

His permanent move came as a surprise but Martinez said it benefited the Latics as he now had a player to work with long-term rather than just for one season.

“It is exciting because in any loan situation you do not have the bigger picture and the long-term ambition,” said the Spaniard.

“It is not just a matter of getting him up to speed and then losing at the end of a 12-month period.

“It is important that from all the young players we are developing here we get rewards.

“To have Franco here as a permanent player is a great signing for us as we can really focus on his development and fulfilling his potential so Wigan can get the rewards.

“It was a clear statement that we wanted the player for the long run to make sure he can have the best years of his career at Wigan.”

Di Santo signed for Chelsea in 2008 but made just 16 appearances for the London side and never started a game.

He went on loan to Blackburn last season, playing 22 times in the Barclays Premier League and scoring just once.

But Martinez said rather than being put off by that apparent failure to nail down a first-team place, he was encouraged by it.

“His spell at Blackburn was probably the reason why we were so certain about him,” added the Wigan manager.

“He needed that period as a young player. When you go into the Premier League the first 20 games are huge in terms of experience and knowing what to expect and preparing yourself for the next chapter.

“It is not about how he did in that chapter it is about how he matured and found a way to help his team.

“I just feel now he is ready to go into the Premier League and be himself and you only do that from experiences.

He is desperate to enjoy his football and be settled.

Roberto Martinez

“The hardest thing for a striker of the type of Franco is to have Premier League experience.

“For me the time he had at Blackburn was the final push to make the decision to sign him permanently.

“He now has 20-odd games in the Premier League and comes here as someone desperate to earn his place and be himself.

“If you speak with him he is desperate to enjoy his football and be settled.”

The Latics’ are next in action on the 11th September when they host Sunderland, Full Time Result betting has Wigan at 2.30 to get the win, Sunderland can be backed at 2.87 while the draw is 3.25.

Wigan are currently 2.00 to be relegated this season.

View all Soccer betting

New Stoke City signing Marc Wilson reveals he had little trouble deciding on whether to join the join the cub on transfer deadline day as he was desperate for a Barclays Premier League return.

Having been relegated with Portsmouth last season the 23-year-old was forced to consider his future and when Potters manager Tony Pulis came calling he leapt at the chance.

“I was impressed with what Tony had to say from the start,” said Wilson.

“He was very positive and it didn’t take me long to make my mind up.

“I’d heard West Ham were interested, but I didn’t speak to anyone there.

“This is a great club and I couldn’t wait to come back to the Premier League because it is every player’s ambition to be in the top flight.

“I had a taste of the Premier League last season and I wanted to get back there as soon as possible.

“Leaving Portsmouth was difficult because I’ve been there for so long, but I wish them well and my aim now is to do my best for Stoke.”

Hopefully I can make my debut against Aston Villa.

Marc Wilson

Wilson was one of three deadline day signings with former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen and ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant also signing at the Britannia stadium.

But the competition for places does not worry the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

“Obviously Eidur and Jermaine are top players and it was a good feeling to be joining the club on the same day,” he told The Sentinel.

“But there are a number of very good players here already.

“There has already been a bit of banter thrown around and it seems to be a lively dressing room.

“Hopefully I can make my debut against Aston Villa (on 13th September) and build a good rapport with them straight away.

“But if I’m not selected, I’ll bide my time until I get my chance.”

Full Time Result betting for the Potters’ home clash against Villa has Stoke at 2.30 to get the win, Villa can be backed at 2.87 while the draw is 3.25.

View all Soccer betting

Tottenham have confirmed the signing of Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid after the Premier League gave the green light for the transfer.

Spurs had been sweating on clearance to finalise the £8million deal for the 27-year-old after technical difficulties prevented them from submitting the relevant paperwork before yesterday’s 6pm transfer deadline.

But after investigating the club’s claims that there were difficulties involving computer servers used in the transaction between themselves and Real, the Premier League ratified the signing.

The Premier League said in a statement: “The Premier League can confirm the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart’s registration from Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur.”

Van der Vaart could now go straight into the squad to face West Brom in their next Premier League game on 11th September. Spurs are 2.00 (Full Time Result) to get the away win, while the Baggies are 3.40 and the draw 3.30.

Tottenham announced: “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart.”

Manager Harry Redknapp had stated that he did not expect to make any signings on deadline day but Spurs signed two, and Redknapp revealed he was alerted to Van der Vaart’s availability just two hours before the window closed.

The transfer of the Dutch midfielder had to be confirmed by the FA by 5pm today in order for the player to be included in Spurs 25-man squad for the first half of the Barclays Premier League season.

View all Soccer betting

New Stoke City signing Eidur Gudjohnsen could make his debut in their next Barclays Premier League game against Aston Villa if he can get match fit in time.

The former Chelsea, Tottenham and Bolton striker was one of three deadline day signings for Stoke who also secured the services of defender Marc Wilson and winger Jermaine Pennant.

Gudjohnsen spent the second half of last season at White Hart Lane but started only four games before returning to Monaco, where he had failed to impress after moving from Barcelona in the summer of 2009.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said of the 31-year-old: “He’s a fantastic player and will provide that little bit more quality that we want. He’s looking to come in and make an impact.

“He’s a fantastic professional. To play where he’s played and to have that record, that speaks volumes for the lad and his character.”

Gudjohnsen is not match fit but Stoke do not play again until the home game against Villa on 13th September, and Pulis is hoping he will be in contention.

“He’ll do a mini pre-season and we hope he’ll be close when we play again,” added the Potters boss on Sky Sports News.

Stoke have had a disappointing start to the season, with losses to Wolves, Tottenham and Chelsea, but Pulis is hoping his new recruits, coupled with the earlier signings of Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters, can make a difference.

He added: “It shows the way the club’s moved on but we’ve got to make sure they come in and have the same attitude as the rest of the players. If they do that then hopefully they’ll make us a better team.”

Full Time Result betting for the Midlands derby has Stoke at 2.30 to pick up the win, Aston Villa can be backed at 2.87 while the draw is 3.25.

Stoke are currently 5.00 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11.

View all Soccer betting