Junior Chelsea duo Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Harvey Vale had several good reasons to be smiling yesterday afternoon.
Both were involved in the team’s second to last training session before Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Plymouth Argyle.
The two 18-year-olds could well be selected by Thomas Tuchel for the fourth-round fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Is it time for Tuchel to pick the academy talents?
Whilst Vale has already broken his senior duck three times, Sharman-Lowe is yet to appear for the Champions League holders.
One of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Marcus Bettinelli will probably claim the goalkeeping gloves, but hope still remains for their younger comrade.
Nevertheless, the youthful ‘keeper and Vale seemed in good spirits when they were captured by the club cameras.
One picture depicted the pair being victorious after a small-sided game on the Cobham pitches.
Saul Niguez, Antonio Rudiger, Kai Havertz, Marcos Alonso, Jorginho and Cesar Azpilicueta also celebrated the triumph.
Not a half-bad group to be involved with.
Saul on standby
At least a handful of these internationals will probably play a part against Plymouth.
Havertz and Saul especially, as they are two players Tuchel has overlooked rather regularly recently.
The latter’s repeated exclusion is understandable.
He was only brought in from Atletico Madrid as cover for the main central midfielders.
His only significant appearances have occurred in the domestic knockout competitions, a duty the Spaniard fulfilled well during the run to the Carabao Cup final.
Curious case of Kai
Havertz, however, remains something of a mystery.
Only once has the £71m (BBC) signing from Bayer Leverkusen featured since the previous round in the FA Cup, and that was only a ten-minute cameo away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Other forwards have been used instead by Tuchel, in an attempt to discover a definitive front line with fluidity and rhythm.
As of yet, the Chelsea manager hasn’t identified a solid combination.
Perhaps Havertz is the missing piece to this complicated puzzle.
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