Chelsea’s thrashing of Grimsby in the Carabao Cup this week underlined the depth of their squad and the quality of youngsters coming through at Stamford Bridge,
It also left Blues boss Frank Lampard with plenty of food for thought ahead of Saturday’s home game against Brighton.
A number of players are surely in the frame for a place in Lampard’s side as they look for his first Premier League home win since taking over.
Reece James
The young right-back was outstanding on his Chelsea debut, scoring one goal and setting up two more.
Impressive on loan at Wigan last season, James has been tipped to establish himself as a key player at the Bridge. Now recovered from an ankle injury, he looks ready for a run in the side and a real chance to show what he can do.
That leaves Lampard with an awkward decision as it could mean leaving out stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta. But while the Spaniard’s days as Chelsea’s first-choice right-back look numbered, there is still the option of moving him to centre-back.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
The England international will no doubt soon be strutting his stuff in the Premier League again, but is this weekend’s game too soon?
Hudson-Odoi scored against Grimsby on his return to the side after a ruptured Achilles tendon, but he took a while to get going and is clearly still regaining his sharpness.
Billy Gilmour
One player who definitely didn’t lack sharpness was teenage midfielder Gilmour, who was superb in midweek. On the evidence of that performance the Scot has a bright future – and might even be worthy of keeping his place against Brighton. He looks like a major prospect.
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