‘Needs working on’… Harry Redknapp claims 22-year-old Chelsea player has to improve

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Harry Redknapp wasn’t too impressed by Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk after watching his most recent performance.

Chelsea beat Newcastle United on penalties in midweek to progress to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they’ll face Championship side Middlesbrough.

Mykhailo Mudryk, who came on as a substitute, made a sizeable impact off the bench versus Newcastle.

First of all, the 22-year-old attacker scored his third goal of the season to net a late equaliser and send the cup tie to a penalty shootout. He then converted his spot-kick low into the bottom left corner.

Harry Redknapp criticism

Harry Redknapp criticised Mudryk despite his match-winning contribution against Newcastle. In particular, he’s not convinced about the general game awareness from the Ukrainian winger.

“Chelsea broke them down in the end because the left winger was in a position he shouldn’t have been in,” Redknapp told Sky Sports’ Main Event channel (7:20pm, 20 December).

“He done it from the cross before. He was stood out wide when he should have been attacking that back post. Looking to get in and fighting Trippier for that inside space. He didn’t do it. But he ends up benefiting from a mistake from Kieran Trippier.”

Redknapp later added: “He don’t know the game. You can see that the boy, Mudryk. When he is stood out there and I am going ‘what are you doing there?’. He definitely needs working on.”

Mykhailo Mudryk has to improve

We agree that Mudryk’s still miles off the finished article and has lots to work on.

However, we’re going to be optimistic after he produced a composed finish to capitalise on Kieran Trippier’s error in midweek.

Speaking via talkSPORT (1:51pm, 18 December), Andy Jacobs admitted that Mudryk can be a “frustrating” watch but it wouldn’t surprise him if he grows into a top-class player eventually.

The Chelsea forward now has three goals and two assists so far this season across all competitions. Let’s see if he can bump those up to a respectable figure by the end of the campaign.