Scorer of two goals in Sunday’s FA Youth Cup Semi-Final First Leg at Stamford Bridge against Manchester United, England u-17 skipper Nathaniel Chalobah is rated as one of the hottest prospects on the reserve circuit, having made his debut for the Blues’ second string against Liverpool last September.
Chalobah, who does not turn 17 until December, began his career in West London as a centre-back as his robust build created a solid presence in Chelsea backlines up and down their Cobham academy. Since then, however, the muscular approach of the Chelsea teenager, born in Sierre Leone’s capital Freetown, has become a potent weapon at both ends with a move into midfield transmitting itself into a goal glut that has alerted many top clubs to his progress.
His weekend brace at the Bridge took his tally for Youth and Reserve teams this season to seven in 21 appearances and handed his side a slender 3-2 advantage ahead of next Wednesday night’s trip to Old Trafford, where Chelsea could qualify for their second successive Youth Cup Final and their third in four attempts.
Chalobah is seen as a hugely talented player on the international stage, too, despite having not yet officially confirmed his allegiance as he is also eligible to play for his country of birth. He currently captains the Under 17 outfit, winners of the European Championships in May after a 2-1 victory over Spain’s next generation, where the holding midfielder played his part at the age of just 15 alongside club colleague Josh McEachran, who has already managed to establish himself this season with six Champions League appearances and a virtuoso display during a Carling Cup cameo against Newcastle.
At Chelsea, Chalobah could seemingly go either way, having been greeted by new arrivals in his original position at the heart of the defence, in the form of David Luiz, himself not yet 24, while fellow youngsters Jeffrey Bruma and Patrick van Aanholt have been farmed out to Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City in order to gain experience.
Yet, if the man singled out for praise by Sir Trevor Brooking after that summer success with the under 17’s was to cement his position holding the midfield and perhaps prove to the Stamford Bridge hierarchy that he has the potential to mature into the mould of Mikel with the brain of Makelele, Champions Chelsea might find room for him more imminently.
With a date at Old Trafford looming ahead of a possible two-legged tussle with Sheffield United for youth football in this country’s most coveted trophy and another close-season of comings and goings that could see yet another alteration of philosophy along the Fulham Road, the young man has a great deal to look forward to; as, too, do his admirers.
No comments:
Post a Comment