Enzo Maresca has confirmed Chelsea academy duo Tyrique George and Sam Rak-Sakyi are likely to be in our matchday squad for tomorrow night's Conference League clash with Noah.
The pair are just two of the exciting talents to progress through our academy recently, hoping to follow in the footsteps of players like Levi Colwill and Reece James by establishing themselves as Chelsea first-team regulars.
George featured for Maresca's men during our pre-season tour to the USA before going on to make his competitive debut against Servette in the Conference League play-offs.
The 18-year-old has now featured off the bench four times for the senior side and Rak-Sakyi will be hoping to follow his team-mate and make his competitive debut soon, having been an unused substitute for our trip to Panathinaikos.
They are just two of the academy products who have been giving opportunities this season, with 17-year-old striker Shumaira Mheuka and Lucas Bergstrom also on the bench against Panathinaikos, and Kiano Dyer an unused substitute against Gent, not to mention others have been included in squads and trained with the first team on occasions.
Maresca was asked if any of the academy graduates would be in the squad for Thursday night's Conference League game with Noah at Stamford Bridge.
‘Tyrique for sure and Sam Rak-Sakyi too. Then we will see with some of them,’ the Italian replied.
Maresca also provided a Chelsea injury update ahead of Noah during his press conference and spoke about why the Blues have to be wary of a side who finished second in the Armenia top division last season and have already beaten Czechia's Mladá Boleslav in the Conference League main phase this season.
He said: 'In the last two or three days, we’ve watched different Noah games. The Conference League for us is a tricky competition because every team wants the game [against us], so we need to be ready technically but also mentally.
‘In their country, they play a different shape, so we don’t know how they will come here. And I’ve said many times, today in football, you can find good players, squads, teams and mangers everywhere, not only in the most important leagues in the world. You can find important things and for sure they have good players.’