19-year-old Chelsea youngster yet to make his debut called up to first team training ahead of Arsenal game

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Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist has now been seen in pictures of first team training as players begin to return from international duty.

Photos published by the club on the 5^th Stand app show the 19-year-old battling it out with some of the more established faces in the Blues squad.

Gilchrist is yet to make his senior Chelsea debut, despite being a long-term member of their youth system.

He is instead a regular in the Premier League 2 side, playing nearly every minute at that level so far this season.

Pre-season was an opportunity though for him to show new manager Mauricio Pochettino exactly what he can do when handed the responsibility of representing the first team.

He impressed in his cameos at the time, however depth in the centre-back position made it very difficult to imagine he would see him much this season.

Gilchrist spotted in training

However, injuries have certainly played their part as far as the first team go, and that position in particular has been hit hard.

Wesley Fofana is already out for the season, whilst Benoit Badiashile is also yet to play this season following his own problems.

Now, Axel Disasi’s name may have been added to that growing list, with him expected to not be available for the Arsenal match at the weekend.

This may be behind Gilchrist being seen as part of the first team training sessions that have been going on this week.

With him being part of the squad this week, he may well be named on the bench as the Blues return to domestic action on Saturday.