A ton of thanks - Lampard's salute after reaching Chelsea milestone

Lampard wallowed in the moment on Saturday when he became Chelsea's eighth centurion, picking out his family in their executive box after scoring the first of two against Huddersfield and then returning to the field after the final whistle to take the acclaim of his fans, with a message of thanks scrawled on his white vest.

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After seven prolific seasons at Stamford Bridge, this was a sweet moment of satisfaction for the £11million man, who has been out to prove a point ever since he left West Ham in 2001.

He has been abused by Hammers fans and, more recently, booed in an England shirt but with 101 goals, two Barclays Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups, his status as a Chelsea legend is safe.

He will not rest, though, without the European Cup.

Lampard said: "After what we've earned over the past few years, it would be a huge thing for this club to go on and win the Champions League. It's the one that's missing and we want it.

"Of course there's a frustration from getting into three semi-finals and not pushing through. That's obvious. It spurs us on. We want to win it and we have the players to do that."

Chelsea flew to Athens on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's first leg of the first knockout round against Olympiacos with most of their senior stars back in the squad including captain John Terry, who returned against Huddersfield a month ahead of schedule after two months out with a broken foot.

Lampard said: "John looked like he'd been out for five minutes. That's the player and person he is. He's a great influence at the back. He's very important because in the big games you need the big players around you."

Terry proved his defensive instinct was still sharp with a goal-line clearance to deny Huddersfield's Nathan Clarke but the day belonged to Lampard.

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The 29-year-old England midfielder broke the deadlock with his 100th Chelsea goal after 18 minutes, charging into the penalty area in typical style to sweep Scott Sinclair's deflected cross into the bottom corner with his right foot.

Michael Collins equalised before half-time but Lampard restored the lead on the hour, this time forcing a rebound over the line after keeper Matthew Glennon had blocked his first effort.

Salomon Kalou added the third, inevitably supplied by a Lampard pass.

"I was pleased to do it in front of the home fans because they have supported me since I've been at the club and I've had a great relationship with them," said Lampard.

"To come across London is not an easy move and they backed me.

"We were a top six or eight club and then we moved to a different level, we signed a lot of big players and, for me, to have stayed in there and got 100 goals is what I'm very pleased with, I'll never forget that.

"Whatever happens to me in the future, that achievement will stay with me forever.

"My two daughters were there and I saw them when I scored my first goal, in the box in the far corner.

"The little 'un won't know too much about it but the older one is two-and-a-half and she'll be jumping up and down."

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His first Chelsea goal came in stoppage time in a UEFA Cup tie against Levski Sofia in September 2001 but he had to wait three more months for his second, against Bolton in the Premier League.

His total is now 101 in 353 appearances, 17 of them from penalties, and boss Avram Grant insists there are lots more to come.

"There are many midfielders in the world but you cannot compare Frank to anybody else," said Grant.

"He is a midfield player who can do everything, but his best quality is to score goals.

"When he gets a chance, he scores. You could see that with the first goal or with the second goal. He will score many more."

In many ways, the season starts here for Chelsea with the Champions League knockout stages and Sunday's Carling Cup Final against Spurs and fans are thrilled by the timely return of Lampard and Terry from injuries.

"They deserve to be the heroes of the club because of what they give to the team," said Grant.

"The relationship is not one way between the supporters and the players and manager.

"We give to them, they give to us. They support us, we support them."

Huddersfield's raucous fans were a credit to the League One club but could not inspire Andy Ritchie's team beyond a 20-minute purple patch either side of half-time.

Chelsea were simply too powerful, with £90m of talent on the subs' bench in Andriy Shevchenko, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka.

Ritchie said: "We knew it was a massive task but we didn't disgrace ourselves. We've played against one of the best sides in Europe and come away with spurs."

Goalscorer Collins will never forget his visit to Stamford Bridge.

"It's what dreams are made of," said the 21-year-old.

"Lower clubs like us coming to Chelsea and having a good go and I managed to get myself on the scoresheet."

When he emerged from the interview room, the team bus had left him behind.