Lampard and Ballack have not clicked as a partnership for Chelsea

Sir Trevor Brooking believes Michael Ballack's arrival at Chelsea has had an adverse effect on Frank Lampard.

Ballack will miss the FA Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday and ex-West Ham and England striker Brooking says that is good for Lampard.

"Michael Ballack likes to be the attacking player and sometimes Frank has had to go out on the left, which is not his best position," said Brooking.

"As Ballack is not available it allows Frank to be more of a danger."

Brooking, who is the Football Association's director of football development, added: "I expect Frank will play a more prominent role.

"I imagine he will play on the forward tip of the diamond, if they line up like that, and that he'll be freer to push forward where he can be such a threat."

Shevchenko doesn't quite seem to have that yard of pace to get away from opposition defenders Sir Trevor Brooking

Ballack arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer, along with striker Andriy Shevchenko, after his contract with Bayern Munich came to an end.

But both players have struggled to make an impact with Chelsea and Shevchenko will also miss the FA Cup final because of injury.

The showpiece at Wembley represents Chelsea's only chance to add to the Carling Cup during a season in which Manchester United wrestled the Premiership title off them and Liverpool knocked them out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

"There's no question that Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko haven't been as strong as Chelsea would have liked," added Brooking.

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"They haven't made the impact expected.

"A lot of overseas players find the pace of the game tough in England, even with all the skills they have.

"Shevchenko doesn't quite seem to have that yard of pace to get away from opposition defenders," he said.

"Whether that's a result of the World Cup or the effects of some lingering injuries I don't know.

"His form has been a problem for Chelsea. When wide men like Joe Cole or Arjen Robben have been injured they have found it difficult to get behind teams.

"To compensate they've had to rely on Didier Drogba's goals. For Chelsea the most important thing against United will be getting the support for Drogba who has carried the scoring."