Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been super impressed by one Chelsea player so far in pre-season and is tipping him to hit the ground running in the new campaign.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 25, is one of several summer signings currently finding his way in the Chelsea squad. His impressive debut performance on Thursday in a 3-0 win against Club America, where he assisted Marc Guiu’s goal, will surely help him settle.
Blues midfielder Dewsbury-Hall does have the upper hand that he worked under head coach Enzo Maresca at Leicester City last season, with the duo making the switch to Stamford Bridge in the same summer. Speaking straight after Chelsea’s victory over Club America, Maresca admitted he asked Dewsbury-Hall to be vocal, which is some level of trust on his debut for a new side.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall talks up Wesley Fofana
Dewsbury-Hall has just delivered a glowing verdict on Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who’s someone he previously played with at Leicester.
The 23-year-old centre-back missed the whole of last season with a long-term injury, but he’s been playing in this pre-season and working with the squad. It’s now been suggested that the Frenchman is looking sharp ahead of the 2024/25 term.
When discussing Blues teammate Fofana, Dewsbury-Hall said via The Athletic: “Wes is one of the most aggressive players I have played with or against. It’s not gone away from him. I have seen it since being here. It’s like, ankle, bang! And I’m like, ‘Thanks, welcome to Chelsea!’.
“He looks like the player I was playing with at Leicester, including the aggressiveness and that. So hopefully he is going to hit the ground running.
“I obviously played with him at Leicester and I know when he is playing at his high level, he is top, top. So far he is looking sharp and fit. I know what levels he can get to, probably levels Chelsea fans have not seen yet. That is exciting for the fans I think because when he gets to those levels, they will really see what type of player he is.”
A huge season for Wesley Fofana
Fofana, Chelsea’s fifth most expensive signing ever, really needs a big season. There was so much excitement when the talented central defender joined in 2022, but injury problems prevented him from reaching world-class potential so far.
Now that there’s been another change of management, it feels like a big opportunity for Fofana to reestablish himself and get his career back on track. It’s time to show why he cost a huge £70m transfer fee (BBC).
He’s got everything you could want in a modern centre-half in terms of pace, strength and quality on the ball. However, it’s understandable if it takes him a while to get back to his very best after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines, so it’ll be up to Maresca to manage him sensibly.
If Fofana is to kick on and have a successful Chelsea career like many predicted, it feels like this has to be the turning point for him.
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