Chelsea prospect Bashir Humphreys has been in first-team training on Friday ahead of the Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
Humphreys, who’s a 19-year-old defender in the Blues academy, is yet to make his senior debut.
However, the teenage centre-back has captained and been a really important player for Chelsea’s Under-21s side so far this season.
Humphreys is pictured [see below] training with the senior group yesterday alongside Thiago Silva and Denis Zakaria.
Bashir Humphreys in training
It’s great to see another talent from Chelsea’s academy mixing it with the senior players just a day before an important game away to Newcastle.
The centre-half wasn’t involved in Under-21s squad earlier in the week, which is why some were hopeful he would get a senior call-up against Manchester City.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t included in the match day squad against Man City.
However, youngster Lewis Hall proved there’s real quality in the youth teams by starting and impressing in the 2-0 defeat to Man City in the Carabao Cup. Micah Richards was even waxing lyrical about him post-match following his display.
Omari Hutchinson did make the bench on Wednesday night without actually getting on the pitch.
Potter arrived at Stamford Bridge a couple of months ago with the reputation of a manager that will give youth a chance.
From the outside looking in, it appears like there’s a genuine pathway from the academy to the main group.
Let’s hope Humphreys is the next Under-21s player to get an opportunity at some stage.
For now, the teenage defender can hope to make a big impact in training and he’ll be like a sponge absorbing tips from some top-class players around him.
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