Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has not been afraid to dip into the academy this season to give them the opportunity at first team level.
The two big success stories have been Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George, both now first team players who were handed a start and impressed in the most recent Conference League game against Legia Warsaw.
Teenagers Shumaira Mheuka, Kiano Dyer and Ato Ampah have all featured under the Italian, with a pathway becoming clear for some of the younger players at the club that the opportunity can emerge at first team level.
This will likely have raised the levels for the academy sides, who have provided a number of big results this season at multiple age levels.
Reggie Walsh scores winner as Chelsea U18s win 4-3
The latest to achieve one of these was the Under 18s side, who picked up a dramatic 4-3 win over Southampton where they scored in the final seconds.
The young Blues named a strong side which included Landon Emenalo, who has made multiple appearances in the past few months for the U21s side.
The last-gasp goal was scored by Reggie Walsh, sending the Blues top of the U18s South with 38 points in 22 games.
The strike was the the midfielder’s fourth of the season in all competitions, with him being another player who has featured in Premier League 2 for the U21s.
Reggie Walsh on Enzo Maresca’s radar
Perhaps the biggest statement of how impressive Walsh has been this season is the fact that first team manager Maresca has taken note of what he is doing.
Walsh has been spotted in first team training alongside the best the Blues have to offer at times this season, with him no doubt not too far away from making his first appearance for the club.
The Conference League has been that competition that has provided most of the academy prospects the chance to play at Stamford Bridge, and given their dominant first leg against Legia there may be an opportunity for him to make the squad on Thursday.
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