The Japanese winger had been left out of the starting line-up after coming under scrutiny for his part in Liam Millar’s decisive breakaway goal in an earlier fixture. He then remained an unused substitute for three consecutive matches before returning to action against Newcastle on Monday.
Sakamoto played the final 29 minutes as Coventry recorded a 4-1 win, offering energy and determination on the right. His contribution included a tenacious piece of play in the build-up to Ellis Simms’ goal, helping underline what he can bring when given an opportunity.
Lampard has made no secret of his affection for the 29-year-old, praising both his character and his approach to training. But with competition for wide positions intense, the head coach knows that personal regard cannot guarantee a place in the team.
“I know Tats really well and I love him as a player and as a person. He’s a dream to work with; I’ve said that many times. And he also offers a lot. He trains every day with a real hunger to get into the team,” Lampard said.
He added that Sakamoto’s latest appearance had reminded him of the qualities he can offer Coventry.
“And to be fair to Tats, I thought for the 30 minutes plus that he played the other night, I think he showed everything that we love in Tats. And there’ll be more to come, I hope, because I’ve got a lot of faith and trust in him.”
Lampard also challenged the idea that players who have spent much of their careers in the Championship should be judged as incapable of succeeding in the Premier League.
“It’s easier for people to do it with a lot of our players, to go ‘oh, they’re Championship players, that’s all they’ve ever been,’ but we’ll only find out if they can play in the Premier League by fighting for their opportunity and then taking it,” he said.
The Coventry manager admitted that leaving players out can be one of the more difficult parts of the job, particularly when they have been regular starters in previous seasons.
“Yeah it is tough, and it’s very personally tougher if you have a heart, and hopefully I do, because it’s not something many jobs have,” Lampard said. “It’s sport so it’s slightly different but in team sport it’s very specific that you can work all week behind the scenes and not take any part or be on the bench or have a bit-part in a weekend as you see it.”
He believes those decisions become easier when selection follows clear standards around training, performance and behaviour.
“So if you can be that cut and dried about it then that’s easier. But emotionally, of course, when the players are disappointed I feel it too.”
Sakamoto’s performance has therefore given Lampard another decision to weigh up. The winger has demonstrated that he can influence a match from the bench, and the manager’s challenge is to reward that contribution while maintaining competition across his squad.