Liam Rosenior is showing a clear willingness to trust in youth as he prepares for his first match in charge of Chelsea. Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign gets under way this Saturday evening with a London derby against Charlton Athletic.
Liam Rosenior is showing a clear willingness to trust in youth as he prepares for his first match in charge of Chelsea.
Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign gets under way this Saturday evening with a London derby against Charlton Athletic.
With a Carabao Cup fixture against Arsenal also on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how Rosenior balances his squad selection for his debut game.
He is expected to field Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, and Estevao Willian as part of a youthful attack.
Now that Enzo Maresca has moved on, it is an ideal time for some of the younger players and squad members to impress under the new manager.
Jesse Derry trains with Chelsea first-team ahead of Charlton
Rosenior gave opportunities to young players like Mike Penders and Emanuel Emegha during his time at Strasbourg, and that approach paid off. So it would not be surprising to see him stick with a similar plan now that he is in charge at Chelsea.
Estevao Willian missed out on the squad against Fulham but is expected to be involved this time around, giving him an early chance to impress his new manager.
Another young player who could get a look-in is Jesse Derry. The 18-year-old forward has been spotted training with the first team ahead of the Charlton match.
Derry has not made his senior debut yet, but he has had a strong season for Calum McFarlane’s U21s, as well as in the UEFA Youth League.
He has scored 10 goals across all competitions so far this season, including a hat-trick for England U19s last November and the winner in a recent 2-1 victory over Arsenal U21s.
Shim Mheuka and Reggie Walsh also seen in training
Shim Mheuka and Reggie Walsh have both featured under Enzo Maresca, giving them a bit of first-team experience heading into the new era.
Mheuka, for instance, came off the bench in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Lincoln City back in September.
Walsh’s story is even more remarkable. He became the third-youngest player to represent Chelsea when he made his debut in the UEFA Conference League at just 16 years old. This season has seen him step up again, making his Champions League bow during October’s 5-1 victory over Ajax.
Now, with Rosenior taking charge, both players will be hoping to carve out regular roles for themselves moving forward.
Category: General Sports
