Chelsea youngster Zak Sturge has been spotted on The 5th Stand in first team training with senior stars this week.
The 18-year-old joined the Blues over the summer, with them facing stiff competition from Tottenham for the deal.
The former Brighton academy star made the switch on a free transfer, and has begun featuring for the U21 side in recent weeks.
He now has 11 appearances in all competitions for the young Blues, providing a couple of assists from his natural left-back role.
This has obviously impressed some of the members of staff with the senior squad, with pictures on Chelsea’s app showing him training alongside the first team.
Unfortunately for Sturge, he in ineligible for tomorrow’s game against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Sturge trains with first team
With the Blues safely through as group winners already, tomorrow hosts an opportunity for a number of youth prospects to be handed an opportunity to impress Graham Potter.
He joins Omari Hutchinson on the list of talented youngsters who are unable to feature at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.
Nevertheless, the opportunity to train alongside multiple Champions League winners as they prepare for a game will be crucial to Sturge.
He may even have one eye on the developing situation at left-back for the starting team.
Marc Cucurella is taking his fair share of criticism at the moment, and it feels as if he could do with a break in order to fully recover from illness and adapt to his new surroundings.
Ben Chilwell still appears to be coming back to 100% fitness after his season-ending injury a year ago, and Sturge may be wondering if these scenarios could lead to an opportunity in the first team squad somewhere down the line.
His best bet may be the League Cup tie just before the World Cup break, with a trip to Manchester City on the cards for the Blues.
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