Chelsea are placing faith in youth as they prepare to play Astana in sub-freezing conditions in Kazakhstan, having added a bundle of academy boys to their Conference League squad in readiness for the 7,000-mile round trip.
Enzo Maresca‘s side have won four out of four fixtures in the league phase and sources say it was always part of the plan to give an opportunity to their Cobham conveyor belt if they reached this fifth tie with a perfect record. It remains to be seen who will make Maresca’s starting line-up in the city of Almaty, where it is forecasted to reach as low as minus 11 on Thursday, as the academy call-ups are set to be combined with a number of senior stars.
Maresca will also make the long journey to Kazakhstan alongside his selected squad despite some speculation suggesting he could swerve the trip. Chelsea will return to training on Tuesday for the first time since their 4-3 comeback victory over Tottenham as the team was allowed Monday off.
While it is not yet confirmed precisely which academy players will travel, 11 are now listed in their updated Conference League squad with UEFA, including: Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kaiden Wilson, Tyrique George, Kiano Dyer, Harrison McMahon, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Ato Ampah, Max Merrick, Josh Acheampong, Shumaira Mheuka and Richard Olise, who is the brother of Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.
When Chelsea first started in the competition, only five were named in the squad, those being: Acheampong, Dyer, George, McMahon and Merrick.
Chelsea are allowed to add an unlimited number of youngsters to their squad’s ‘B list’ whenever they wish and they have made additions as the league phase progressed, with 19-year-old Rak-Sakyi coming off the bench in their Conference League wins over Noah and Heidenheim last month.
Kiano Dyer (left) and Shumaira Mheuka could both make their Chelsea debut in Kazakhstan
England U21 goalkeeper Max Merrick is in contention for the Conference League fixture
Enzo Maresca’s young Chelsea side are flying high both in the Premier League and in Europe
Should they travel and feature as a starter or substitute, Astana would mark senior debuts for Murray-Campbell, Wilson, Dyer, Ampah, Mheuka and Olise, as well as 19-year-old goalkeeper Merrick.
Chelsea have full faith in their starlets as they come from a highly professional setting at Cobham, considered one of the best talent production lines in the country. It will also not clash with Under-21 duties as their next Premier League 2 fixture is not until Monday night in Newcastle.
Levi Colwill is also listed as a ‘B’ player in Chelsea’s squad as the 21-year-old England international qualifies due to being so young. Those born from January 2003 onward are eligible so long as since their 15th birthday, they have been able to play for the club for any uninterrupted period of two years, or a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan spell to a side from the same football association.
Maresca’s pre-match press conference is scheduled to take place at Cobham on Wednesday morning before he and the players embark on their long trip for Thursday’s European clash. Chelsea’s next Premier League fixture is at home to Brentford in a rare 7pm kick-off slot on a Sunday as they look to maintain their surprising charge towards being title contenders.