Having left the bulk of his first team at home for Thursday’s Conference League meeting with Astana, Enzo Maresca is expected to hand opportunities to a host of Chelsea youngsters this afternoon.
The Blues are in Almaty, Kazakhstan looking to make it a perfect five wins from five and continue their smooth progression into the knockout stage.
An eight-hour flight across five time zones has seen Maresca decide to leave many of his star names in London preparing for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Brentford.
As such, no fewer than a dozen academy products have been drafted in to bolster the Italian’s squad. Here’s what you need to know about them...
Lucas Bergstrom
Finnish goalkeeper, who is already a full international, has been a regular in Conference League squads this season but is yet to make his senior debut.
The 22-year-old, who has been at Chelsea since 2018, also made the Premier League bench on numerous occasions last season amid a spate of goalkeeping injuries.
Max Merrick
The 19-year-old Englishman joined Chelsea’s academy straight out of grassroots football at the relatively late stage of Under-13s.
Has been Chelsea’s regular U21 ‘keeper throughout this season and made his first international appearances for England’s U20s in the autumn.
Josh Acheampong
Highly-rated full-back played against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in September but has not featured since amid a contract stand-off, with the club keen for him to commit his long-term future.
Maresca suggested on Wednesday that a deal is now close, hence his return to the fold. He is expected to start against Astana in what would be first senior appearance in almost three months.
Harrison Murray-Campbell
Viewed by all at Cobham as a promising leader, having captained the U21s on several occasions this season, despite only turning 18 in August.
Two-footed defender capable of playing across the backline, Murray-Campbell has become an England U19 regular this season and skippered that side against Croatia in September.
Richard Olise
Two nights after brother Michael was tearing it up for Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the younger Olise will be hoping for his own taste of European action.
Now 20, the right-back joined Chelsea at the age of eight and, unlike his brother - who also played for Arsenal, Manchester City and Reading at youth level - has continued his development at Cobham.
Kaiden Wilson
Bristolian was spotted playing in an U14 tournament in his hometown and invited to join the Chelsea academy.
A key part of the U18 side that finished top of the Premier League South last season, has since made the step up to U21 level and scored his first goal in last month’s win over Derby.
Kiano Dyer
Exciting midfield talent who only turned 18 last month. Was a regular for the U21s by the age of 16 and was called up to train with Mauricio Pochettino’s first team last season.
An unused substitute against Gent and Heidenheim in the Conference League already this season and was named the Premier League 2’s player of the month in October.
Samuel Rak-Sakyi
Midfielder made his senior debut as a substitute in the 8-0 home thrashing of FC Noah and made another brief cameo away to Heidenheim last month.
The younger brother of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who also came through the Chelsea academy before moving to Crystal Palace in 2019, and signed a new two-year contract last summer.
Harvey Vale
Something of a forgotten man, Vale made his Chelsea debut three years ago and captained the England side that won the U19 European Championship in 2022.
Spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers and looked likely to leave in the summer amid Saudi interest but the deal could not be done. Has been regularly among the goals and assists for the U21s this season and may seek senior football elsewhere in January.
Ato Ampah
Born in the Ghanaian capital of Accra before moving to the UK, Ampah joined Chelsea’s academy aged 11.
The winger scored eight times in 12 matches during successful U18 Premier League campaign last season and is another who has made the jump to U21 football this term.
Tyrique George
Winger is becoming a familiar name, having featured in all four group games so far following his senior debut against Servette in qualifying.
That included a first start in the 8-0 thrashing of FC Noah and he may well be in line for another on Thursday given the number of senior forwards left at home.
Shumaira Mheuka
The youngest of those involved, Mheuka only turned 17 in October but has already made the bench twice in this competition, against Panathinaikos and Heidenheim.
The forward started out in Brighton’s academy but switched to Chelsea two years ago before becoming a full-time scholar this summer, having scored 12 times for the U18s while still a schoolboy last season.
