Jason Cundy awarded Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall his seal approval during the game against Aston Villa last night.
Cundy was on coms for the friendly between the two Premier League sides in Abu Dhabi on Sunday when he delivered his glowing verdict on Hall.
The 18-year-old started the game against Villa, alongside several of his other academy graduates.
Graham Potter relied on youth to take on Unai Emery’s strong side, with several of his first-team regulars either still at the World Cup or recovering from the tournament.
Lewis Hall leaves his mark on Aston Villa
Hall began the fixture in central midfield, the position he regular takes up for the Under-21s.
He has primarily played as a left-back or left-wing back when called upon by Thomas Tuchel or Potter, but returned to a more familiar setting yesterday.
Whilst the teenager could not prevent Villa from winning 1-0, he certainly caught the eye of Cundy once again.
“I’ve been impressed with him. Every time I’ve seen Lewis Hall, whether it’s been in the Carabao Cup or wherever it might be, he’s a very accomplished, confident young man,” said the former Chelsea player.
“Against Manchester City, he was man of the match. He was outstanding on the night. He can play a variation of roles on this left-hand side.
More to come from Mr Hall
Hall might only have three senior appearances to his name, but he has clearly left an impression on those watching him closely.
His debut occurred last season against Chesterfield in the FA Cup Third Round, a memorable evening that ended with an assist.
Potter then picked him to face Manchester City last month, doing so again five days later away to Newcastle United in the league.
Both times Chelsea lost the fixture, yet both times Hall stood out above his senior co-workers.
He is very much in contention to feature more for the Blues this campaign, with a spot in midfield possibly up for grabs.
“(Mateo) Kova’s obviously not going to be back for the first game, Jorginho’s here now, so he’s certainly put himself in the mix,” continued Cundy when asked if Hall could support the current midfielders.
With N’Golo Kante absent, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek overcoming an injury, Hall may well be an option for Potter in the near future.
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