Enzo Maresca was able to hand minutes to a number of youngsters as Chelsea got the job done in emphatic style against Southampton.
The Blues won 4-0 against the relegation-threatened Saints, with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella finding the net.
As Cole Palmer’s woes continued in front of goal, Nkunku will have been delighted to find the net after a tough time looking to fill the boots of Nicolas Jackson.
Tyrique George was handed more Premier League minutes, and made the most of them as he provided the assist for the fourth goal with tricky play down the right.
Maresca hinted George would feature more in the upcoming weeks after the impressive cameo, and striker Shumaira Mheuka will be hoping he is blessed with the same fate.
Rio Ferdinand says Chelsea wonderkid Shumaira Mheuka used to be a centre-back
The striker came off the bench for his Premier League debut, and has the backing of Josh Acheampong to make it in the first team squad.
The 17-year-old has been scoring freely for the academy sides this season, and is one of the options to cover for Jackson as the Blues search for a regular solution up top.
The future could have been very different for Mheuka if he had carried on playing in the position he started his youth career at though.
Rio Ferdinand claimed in his commentary of the game for TNT sports that he had seen the player before he was even a teenager featuring as a defender.
He said: “I saw him as an 11-year-old – centre back he was! Now he doesn’t mind finding the net.”
Chelsea have a plethora of young defenders coming through the ranks in themselves, with some being close to making Premier League debuts too.
Aaron Anselmino is one of those pushing for an appearance after joining the Blues early from his spell back at Boca Juniors.
Mheuka nearly breaks Premier League record
It didn’t take long for Mheuka to get amongst the action after being introduced at Stamford Bridge, getting on the end of a corner that Chelsea had won before he was brought on.
His header was saved by Aaron Ramsdale, denying the youngster an opportunity to break a Premier League record which may never be topped.
According to the Premier League, the fastest goal by a debutant was scored by David Healy for Fulham in 2007 after 51 seconds, a time Mheuka would easily beaten if he had found the net.
A few minutes was all it took for the 17-year-old to show he can compete at the top level already, and that he should be in Maresca’s consideration for future squads, particularly with the Conference League around the corner.
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