Xabi Alonso looks on
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso(Image: Mike Hewitt)
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If you told Reggie Watson 12 months ago that he would be in the situation he is in right now, he might have thought you were mad.
It is fairly remarkable that at 16 years old, Watson has become one of Xabi Alonso's wildcard options in the first-team squad. While the teenager has been mainly used for Cobham Next Gen (Chelsea's newly-named Under-21s side), he has also been included in both of the Blues senior squads for their Carabao Cup ties.
After being an unused substitute in the second round victory over Luton Town, Watson was then thrown in at the deep end against Leeds United. Watson made his full Chelsea debut in the 6-3 victory over the Whites at Stamford Bridge, playing the first 45 minutes as a reward for his development since Alonso arrived at the club over the summer.
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Alonso showed a lot of faith in Watson during the Chelsea manager's first pre-season at the club. The Blues travelled to Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia over the summer to prepare for the new campaign and the teenage midfielder played a big part alongside a host of senior stars.
Watson completed the full 90 minutes of Chelsea's pre-season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers, having also played a part in two behind-closed-doors friendlies before the Blues flew out to Australia, and caught the eye. football.london was in attendance on that night at the Accor Stadium and was mightily impressed with what we witnessed from Watson, referencing his desire to get stuck into the physical side of the game despite being just 16.
Alonso was clearly happy with what he saw from the Chelsea academy star and that showed with the manager handing the midfielder three more appearances over the course of the tour.
Watson, in many ways, is beyond his years when he is on the pitch. Alonso is said to be a fan of the midfielder's mentality and that is why he felt as if he could trust him by throwing him in from the start against Leeds last month.
Reggie Watson
Xabi Alonso rates Reggie Watson really highly(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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He is yet to be part of a Premier League squad this season, though that will come in time. Watson was part of the travelling contingent for the defeat to Brentford prior to the international break but was not named on the squad list, despite his academy colleague Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli being given a place on the bench - and coming on with a few minutes of the game remaining.
Instead, Watson has been shining for Cobham Next Gen (CNG) - and he's not the only one. Watson was one of three Chelsea youngsters nominated for Premier League 2's Player of the Month for September.
Chizaram Ezenwata and Leo Black, the latter who recently signed for Chelsea on a two-year contract after impressing during a trial, were also on the shortlist to be crowned September's MVP. It was, though, Watson, who scored three goals over the course of the month as his development continues to impress senior Blues officials.
Reggie Watson
Reggie Watson has been in and around the Chelsea first-team squad this season(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)
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Alonso might be hoping to get another close look at Watson this weekend. Sources have confirmed to football.london that Chelsea will take part in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth over the weekend with Alonso keen to keep his players in rhythm as we approach the conclusion of the extended three-week international break.
CNG do not have a game this weekend either, so the path seems clear for Watson to once again impress Chelsea first-team staff. Eventually, Watson will be hoping to become a fixture of the Blues senior squad but given his age, that might take some time but he can't really be doing much more than he is currently doing in order to force his way in.