Omari Hutchinson travelling up to the AMEX on Saturday with the first-team squad felt like a telling moment for the 19-year-old.
Having only joined from London rivals Arsenal during the summer after impressing for their academy, Hutchison has quickly garnered attention for his performances in the EFL Trophy for Mark Robinson's under-21 side and in Premier League 2.
Clips of his game-changing display away at Leyton Orient were being shared amongst Chelsea fans on Twitter, showcasing his trickery and speed with the ball. Going on a lung-bursting run towards goal before blasting a left-footed strike into the top corner. He has quickly been involved in first-team training with fellow academy peers.
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With the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka and Armando Broja gaining several chances under Graham Potter so far, this signals another early sign that the route for young players into his plans are not just nice platitudes.
Being promoted to a matchday squad so suddenly reflects the eye-catching talent the attacker possesses and also what it could do in convincing young players there is a route beyond the elite surroundings of Cobham.
The new ownership group have invested a lot into the academy so far, capturing the signatures of talent like Hutchinson, along with Cesare Casadei from Inter Milan in another notable get.
"Promoting Omari to the senior squad for the Brighton game is a really encouraging sign." Parth, the owner of The Chelsea Spot, tells football.London.
"Boehly, Potter and Neil Bath have all suggested that the use of the academy is a high priority at the club, but to actually see it in action is much more exciting. Most of the U19s and above have now trained with the first team on at least one occasion, and we're seeing the U21s train with the first team more than ever.
"Omari has been without a shadow of a doubt the best performer in the academy this season. He's just been on another level. Putting him on the bench for a Premier League game is not only good for him in terms of experience and showing there's a way into the first team, but it also acts as a brilliant signal to the rest of the academy that strong and consistent performances correlate with opportunities. It's something we simply haven't seen enough of under previous Chelsea coaches."
There will always be critical eyes from outside observers regarding young players trying to break through at elite clubs. When Hutchinson left Arsenal in the summer, there were some raised eyebrows from the Gunners side regarding the player's choice and the realistic prospect of advancing quicker towards senior minutes at Cobham than Colney. But by the evidence of Saturday, Hutchinson will feel his choice has been quickly vindicated.
Chelsea's new ownership will be hoping to avoid the exodus of 2021 that saw several academy prospects depart before even gaining a loan for the experience. Tino Livramento being the most noteworthy, given his instant jump to first-team football at Southampton.
Even if these seem like small gestures, for talents like Hutchinson, tangible involvement and opportunity is what most players are asking for. Signs of a route into more minutes, rather than a guarantee which some mistakenly frame the frustration of academy talent as.
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