Lewis Hall made his first start for Chelsea in a number of months when he took to the Stamford Bridge pitch against Nottingham Forest. Once again the 18-year-old showed he was pretty much up to the task and was unafraid to take on responsibility in the Blues XI.
The Cobham product's outing came amid injuries to Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella that ultimately saw Hall prevented in joining up with England's Under-20s side that is travelling to the World Cup in Argentina. Chelsea's Harvey Vale, Bashir Humphreys, Teddy Sharman-Lowe were all named in the squad for the competition.
That leaves Hall with the opportunity to play four first team matches, albeit with little left on the line for the west London side. With Nottingham Forest ticked off, a start against Manchester City awaits, a team that he has already featured against three times this season.
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Frank Lampard has admitted that it was his decision for the youngster to remain with the Blues, and described it as an 'opportunity', despite Hall never having been capped at Under-20s level before. The midfielder, who has predominantly featured at left back for Chelsea has made seven first team appearances this term and could now hit double figures when the season closes.
While the development squad star has been by no means a regular for the first XI, he has seen big positives with his season.
He said: "It definitely feels like a season of progress, especially between the start of the season and January. I feel I took a big step. Everything was going well and I put in performances I was really pleased with. Obviously, I was working hard in training and with the Under-23s I was doing well; I was managing to score goals, get assists.
"Then when you get opportunities to train with the first team and you continue to do well, it is a nice feeling. I was waiting to get my opportunity and when I got it, I took it. Then it is about keeping that momentum. But against Liverpool, it probably wasn't one of my best games."
Hall, who made his first team debut in the FA Cup during 2021/22, has already hinted at the experience that will be offered during this period.
He added: "Away from home is tricky. When we played City at the Etihad, the Chelsea fans were making a lot of noise but because they're so high up it's difficult to hear them, especially when there’s a full stadium of City fans cheering. That was my second game and I remember going to take a corner and I have never had so much stick in my life, so many people shouting at me, and it just shows you what the top players deal with. It's a good experience to get."
With Hall speaking so positively about so few games in addition to his Premier League 2 experiences, it becomes easier to see why the remaining Premier League matches could prove beneficial. Chelsea may have little to play for but their opponents do. Forest are fighting for survival, Man City could claim the title and Manchester United and Newcastle are hoping to secure Champions League football.
This last group of games will allow the opportunity to once again find momentum, on a bigger stage than the Under-20s World Cup. Whether that be to impress Mauricio Pochettino, or to draw in interested parties for a loan next year, it could pay dividends.
Now it appears Carney Chukwuemeka is in the same position following injuries to Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante. The midfielder is set to miss the group stage of the Under-20s competition.
Chukwuemeka has featured for just 371 minutes across 14 appearances, spending less time on the pitch than Hall, and could yet face greater competition. Lampard still has an array of options in advanced positions, while Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Denis Zakaria could all fill in on the centre of the pitch.
Time with England would have provided Chukwuemeka with some much-needed time on the pitch to gain momentum ahead of a summer where Chelsea would consider a loan move. It would be unnecessary for the Blues to rob him of that unless he can earn some playing time under Lampard, under who he has scarcely made a squad.
Chukwuemeka can find the same opportunity as Hall, and perhaps requires it even more so having been a member of the first team squad for the vast majority of the season but unable to earn much playing time.
The final three games can provide Chukwuemeka with an opportunity to find his feat in the Premier League in time for Pochettino's arrival, and Lampard must provide the opportunity that has been offered to Hall. It will aid Chelsea's future either in establishing his place in the squad or helping to find the correct next move.
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