Becoming a first-team regular at Chelsea is Leo Castledine's dream - but the midfielder has admitted he has got to work for his place at the very top level. The 19-year-old, who made his senior debut for the Blues earlier this year, is currently out on loan at Shrewsbury Town in League One.
Castledine joined Salop in the summer and made a fast start to life at the club, scoring on his debut against Leyton Orient. He has since enjoyed mixed form, having been in and out of the XI under former boss Paul Hurst before new manager Gareth Ainsworth was appointed last month.
Although Shrewsbury are second bottom of League One - five points from safety - Castledine believes that this season has been "positive" so far. He has scored twice in 16 appearances across all competitions for the Shropshire club this term, although he has failed to find the net since September.
Speaking to football.london, Castledine said: "I think it's been really positive, not for me personally but even as a team. We struggled at the start of the season, it was tough the first couple of games and it didn't go as planned, but I have always thought there was a foundation in the team. And with the right leadership and mentality going forward I can't see any problems."
"I think I have done alright," he added, when asked about his own performances. "With it being my first loan my main focus was to come here and do as well as I can, show who I am as a player as a personality, stay in the team as much as I can and help the team as much as I can as well."
Castledine, who scored 10 goals in 18 Premier League 2 appearances for Chelsea Under 21s last season, made his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup in January. He was also named in the matchday squad on six other occasions but remained an unused substitute.
Chelsea midfielder Leo Castledine
Chelsea midfielder Leo Castledine (Image: Getty Images)
Apart from a five-minute cameo against Boro, Castledine hadn't experienced any senior men's football before this season but he believes his time in the third tier of English football has been "nice" and "refreshing" so far.
"I don't think football is what anyone expects, but it's been nice and refreshing," Castledine said. "Obviously I was playing a lot of Premier League 2 football back at Chelsea and I think my time had come where I was ready to take the next step into men's football and coming here to a place like Shrewsbury has been good for me.
"It has opened my eyes up to the Football League a lot and how different it can be. It's a massive step up and change to academy football but I have tried to take it into my stride as much as I can."
Castledine has seen the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Levi Colwill enjoy time in the EFL before cementing themselves as first-team regulars at Chelsea in recent years - and that is something the teenager is hoping to replicate. He didn't shy away from stating his dream of playing in the Premier League in the future.
"Obviously that is my goal and that is most kids' goals growing up playing football; they want to play at the highest level," Castledine said. "It's always good to see people that have been in my position and speaking to them.
Leo Castledine while playing for Shrewsbury Town
Leo Castledine while playing for Shrewsbury Town (Image: Getty Images)
"I have spoken to those sorts of players while I was at Chelsea and they have been good with us young lads, they take us under their wing and tell us that it is possible, you just need to get your head down, keep playing well, doing your thing and your time will come. It's not about rushing anything, take every day as it comes and believing you're good enough to make it."
Before his move to Shropshire, Castledine had lived in London his entire life and hadn't moved away from that area. However, following his switch to Shrewsbury, he was forced to venture to pastures new for the first time and this is something that has been a positive learning curve for him.
"It's definitely different," Castledine admitted. "I've lived in London for my whole life, so this is my first time living away from home but I'm really enjoying it. Shrewsbury is an amazing town, really nice people. I'm living by myself and it's good for me. With it being my first loan, I think it's good to have that experience of doing my own things and becoming a man, so yeah it's helping."
Castledine hasn't quite hit his top form this season but the attacking midfielder is hoping he can get back up the level he was producing for Chelsea U21s on a regular basis. He also added that he is hopeful that he can help fire Shrewsbury up the table, too.
"I think my goals are similar for both a team and on a personal note," Castledine finished. "I think we need to do as best we can. I think as a team we are really pushing, we want to stay up and get as high as we can in the table, personally I think it's just to keep trying to play as many games as I can and helping the team as much as I can whether that’s scoring goals or getting assists or putting in good performances."
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