Jason Kreis: 'No truth' to Frank Lampard loan extension rumors

New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis refuted reports that midfielder Frank Lampard, currently on loan to NYCFC's parent club Manchester City in the EPL, may have his England stay extended beyond January. 

"There is no truth to that rumor at all," Kreis stated flatly in a conference call following his participation in the MLS Expansion Priority Draft on Wednesday. 

Lampard scored an emotional equalizer against his former club Chelsea over the weekend, promoting Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini to mention that he would be interested in extending the loan. Multiple outlets, including Sky Sports, have reported that the EPL side would be interested so that Lampard can provide cover for Yaya Touré, who will be absent while plain with the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations. 

The former Chelsea man's stock has only risen in his time in Manchester, as he followed up his crucial goal over the weekend with two strikes against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup -- a performance that drew the attention of a very kind field intruder. 

Lampard will be one of two big-name players that will suit up for NYCFC as it begins play in MLS next year. The other, Spanish striker David Villa, will head to the opposite hemisphere on a loan deal with Australian A-League side Melbourne City. 

Kreis confirmed to SI.com on the conference call that Villa will head Down Under in the first week of October, and will stay for two months. 

"He's been training here in NYC, and I spent some time with him in the past week," Kreis said. "He looks ready to go."

Lampard and Villa currently represent one third of NYCFC's squad, with the remaining spots currently filled by defenders Jeb Brovsky and Kwane Watson-Siriboe, midfielder Andrew Jacobson, and goalkeeper Josh Saunders.