Chelsea Academy duo Jesse Derry and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen will both travel with the senior squad for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Wrexham. Liam Rosenior revealed this news and explained why he sees it as important to continue bringing young players through at Cobham.
Academy Players Get Their Chance
The cup competitions have provided opportunities for young players this season at Chelsea. Several teenagers from the Academy have been involved with the men’s team during the FA Cup and League Cup campaigns.
Next up, the Blues travel away to Wrexham in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Rosenior has opened the door for more opportunities, with Derry and Kavuma-McQueen both travelling to Wales as part of his squad after impressing the head coach in training.
Derry made his senior debut for Rosenior in the last round of this competition, coming on for Estevao Willian for the final 15 minutes of the 4-0 win at Hull City. Kavuma-McQueen was an unused substitute for the home victory over Ajax in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the season.
Rosenior Praises Academy Talent
‘Ryan and Jesse will travel with the group, so they will be part of the squad for Wrexham,’ said Rosenior. He is helped by having former Chelsea Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane as one of his assistants.
‘I’m very fortunate to have Calum in our staff, who has an unbelievable understanding of the Academy, the players that are coming through. I want to develop players from within this Academy as well, so they’ll be travelling with us.
‘Jesse’s really impressed me, Ryan’s impressed, but it’s not just those two. There have been a few that I’ve got to see in training when they’ve been brought up that I’m really happy with.
‘Reggie Watson has trained with us a few times, he’s really impressed me. It’s scary the age that he is. Young Mahdi [Nicoll-Jazuli] has been up a few times, he’s an outstanding talent as well.
‘There are some outstanding young players in the group. We just need to make sure we put them in at the right time and they get the experiences that they need to continue their development.’
Importance of Youth Development
Several graduates from the Chelsea Academy are already firmly established in the senior squad. Rosenior knows the value of promoting young talent from within, meaning he keeps a close eye on the younger age groups.
‘I was at the FA Youth Cup game [against Manchester City], I’ve seen a few of the Under-21s games, watched a lot of clips with Calum from his time before me with the group as well, to get to know the young players.
‘There’s nothing better than giving a young player who has come through the Academy their debut, or seeing them grow. Look at Reece [James] now, or Trevoh Chalobah, and what this club means to them.
‘That should always be in your thinking, to want to develop, and this is an outstanding Academy that has produced so many incredible players through the years. We want to continue that and make sure the pathway for those players is there.’
It is not just our head coach who…