Chelsea do not have the best recent track record of promoting their young talents to first team football, and have already frustrated one of the shining lights of their academy.
The Blues have been left to regret their treatment of Rio Ngumoha this season after he decided he wouldn’t have enough opportunities at Stamford Bridge.
He joined Liverpool for a minimal fee, and now has multiple Premier League goals to his name for his new club.
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Shumaira Mheuka ‘very concerned’ about pathway to Chelsea first team
When looking at the current academy stars at Cobham, arguably the most promising player is Shumaira Mheuka. He has 24 goals throughout various competitions for the young Blues this season.
Despite his excellent form, opportunities have been restricted to a combined 31 minutes for the first team across the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
This has left the striker ‘very concerned’ as Chelsea continue to sign young talents from around the world, according to Simon Phillips.
He said on his Substack: “And finally, the unhappiness seeps down to the academy at Cobham as well.
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“Some of the players in the academy do not see any chance of a pathway into the first team because of Chelsea signing many young talents from outside. Shim Mheuka has been mentioned to me as one of them who is very concerned.”
Liam Rosenior has kept Mheuka training with the first team squad, however has often favoured Marc Guiu when it comes to attacking youngsters.
The youngster was close to breaking a Premier League record when he almost scored seconds into his debut, although has not had a league opportunity this season.
Given how poor Liam Delap’s form has been, it is alarming that there hasn’t been an opportunity handed the youngster’s way deputising for Joao Pedro.
What should Liam Rosenior do with Shim Mheuka?🤔
He's too good to be in the academy!
Shim Mheuka stats this season
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There are internal concerns over Delap at the club, however they have already made efforts to bring in different options for the future.
Emanuel Emegha is set to join the club at the end of the season, while there is plenty of excitement over the pending addition of Dastan Satpaev.
It is difficult to see where the opportunities will come for Mheuka, who could be the next young talent to take his talents elsewhere.
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