One of the major criticisms Chelsea consistently has taken over the past few years is its inability to break youth into the first team. While the Blues have one of the best academies in English soccer, they consistently loan out their best products and are never heard from again.
But with the year-long transfer ban stopping Chelsea from buying more players to fill the holes in its roster, it will have to rely on its youth products to step up.
One such player is Tammy Abraham.
Chelsea has struggled to find a consistent striker since Diego Costa was ousted by Antonio Conte. It looked to Alvaro Morata and then to Gonzalo Higuain, both failing to make much of an impact.
Abraham, 21, spent the last season on loan with Aston Villa. There he scored 26 goals in 40 appearances, helping the side gain promotion after beating Frank Lampard's Derby County in the promotion playoffs.
He is well aware of how much pressure is on the youth to step up this season. You can also tell how excited he is as he spoke about it:
“There is a great chance for us young players so we must get our heads down in training and go for it at Chelsea," Abraham said. "There is no better time for a young player to be at Chelsea. I am going to give it my all. With a new manager coming in there is no better time to show what I am made of in preseason. I am just buzzing at the thought of the new season.”
This season will not only provide the youngsters like Abraham with a great opportunity to break into the first team. It will also give the club an opportunity to make use of the successful Chelsea academy that has gone underused over the years.
