Enzo Maresca Spotlights Chelsea Academy Talents While Lightheartedly Dismissing ‘New Rio Ngumoha’
ENZO MARESCA has an impressive talent pool at Stamford Bridge, with three young players from Cobham making promising strides towards first-team inclusion.
After showcasing their skills during the international break with England’s youth teams, 16-year-old Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and 17-year-old Shim Mheuka are two forwards that the Italian coach is keen to feature in his future selections.
5
5
5
Mheuka, who made his Premier League and European debuts for the senior team last season, scored five goals in three matches for the Young Lions. Meanwhile, winger Kavuma-McQueen shone with an impressive four-goal performance against Germany’s under-17 side.
With Cole Palmer and Liam Delap out due to injuries, the opportunity for these rising stars may come sooner than anticipated, especially with Chelsea set to face Lincoln in the Carabao Cup on 24th September, as Marc Guiu is also unavailable for that match.
Maresca shared his insights on both players during a press conference, remarking: “They are definitely part of my plans. Shimmy saw some action last season, and Ryan typically plays as a winger.”
“I was very impressed after seeing him score four goals against Germany; I had already been made aware of his talent. One of my staff members keeps a close eye on the youth team and has praised his abilities.
“It’s vital to be patient with young players, as they can evolve rapidly. Nevertheless, he is someone we are closely monitoring.”
Kavuma-McQueen is well-regarded within the Chelsea youth setup, and the club is committed to preventing a repeat of the situation with Rio Ngumoha, who transferred to Liverpool seeking first-team opportunities.
The club successfully turned down interest from Liverpool and Barcelona, and they will be pleased that Kavuma-McQueen is nearing the signing of his first professional contract on his 17th birthday, which happens to be New Year’s Day 2026.
While Maresca expressed admiration for both goal-scoring youngsters, he did indicate that he has a favorite among Chelsea’s youth prospects.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
5
The Chelsea head coach is not particularly known for his excitement during press conferences, but when asked about young talent Reggie Walsh, he displayed a warm smile.
Walsh, 16, has been practicing with the first team and was part of a record eight young players to earn first-team opportunities last season. It wouldn’t be surprising if he receives more chances this year as the team grapples with injuries to key midfielders.
Liam Delap is sidelined for three months as Enzo Maresca provides a major injury update on Chelsea’s striker
Maresca also commented: “I value all the academy players, but Reggie stands out as my favorite.
“He possesses exceptional talent, but we must protect them as they are from the academy.
“Our squad is already the youngest in Premier League history, and last season, we provided numerous debuts to academy players. But Reggie is executing actions actively that I expect from other players, which is why I hold him in such high esteem.”
Though the upcoming match against Brentford may come too soon for the Cobham trio, they are likely to feature when Chelsea U21 takes on Ipswich next Saturday at Kingsmeadow.
5