Dean Saunders has ripped into Graham Potter for his treatment of Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall at the weekend against Manchester City.
Hall made his fifth first-team appearance for Chelsea on Sunday, starting in the 4-0 away defeat at Man City in the FA Cup third round.
The 18-year-old is a versatile star that plays a lot in midfield at youth level, but his introduction to the senior XI this season has been covering at left-back.
He’s now featured in all three of Chelsea’s games against Man City so far this campaign, one in the league and two in cup competitions, but the weekend was certainly the most challenging meeting.
Lewis Hall against Manchester City
TalkSPORT pundit Saunders has strongly criticised Potter for starting Hall at left-back against Man City.
He feels the English teenager was left massively exposed at full-back in the Blues system, with opposition players Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker both flourishing.
“The young lad Hall, who’s going to be a player in my opinion, he (Potter) knew before the kick-off that if he played him on the left-hand side he’s got Mahrez and Kyle Walker running at him. Good luck,” Saunders told talkSPORT.
“I would’ve been worried before kick-off… I would have made sure he had help if I was going to play him.”
In our view, it’s a slight overreaction from Saunders.
Hall definitely had it tough against Man City’s experienced right wing, especially as full-back isn’t his number one positoin.
However, we can’t criticise Potter for bringing these youngsters into the team at a time when there’s injuries and bad form everywhere you look.
Described as “a gem” by Micah Richards a couple of months ago, Hall will benefit in the long run from his latest first-team experience.
This is one of the emerging youngsters at the club that should be in line for more game time this season.
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