Assessing Chelsea's Rising Youngsters

When Frank Lampard was appointed as Chelsea manager, he came with the promise that the academy players would get the opportunities they deserved. So far, it is fair to say he has delivered on that promise. Chelsea has given its academy players a huge amount of playtime this season, 2nd only to Manchester United in minutes played by players the academy, with 12 players playing for the first team this season. Promising youth team players who have made the jump to the first team this season include Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, and Fikayo Tomori. Under Lampard, young players from the academy have established themselves as first-team regulars, and this young English core has attracted the attention of Gareth Southgate, with Abraham, Mount and Tomori getting their England debuts, and James is not far behind. The youth combined with the fundamental experience of players like Willian, Jorginho, and captain Cesar Azpilicueta has created a very exciting, dynamic team which has a huge upside and will only get better with Lampard at the helm. Here is a greater look at the academy players who have shone this season for the Blues.

Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham arrived at Chelsea this season fresh off of a fantastic season with Aston Villa in the Championship, being the top scorer and achieving promotion to the Premier League at the expense of Lampard's Derby County. His confidence was immediately displayed when he took the No. 9 shirt, a jersey number which has plagued Chelsea strikers in the past, with Radamel Falcao, Alvaro Morata, and Gonzalo Higuain notable examples of top strikers who massively underperformed with that number. However, he was sure that he could be the one to break the infamous "No. 9 Curse of Stamford Bridge," and so far, he is on the right path. He has scored 13 goals for Chelsea, leading the team, and has shown himself to be a very useful asset for Lampard. His pace and athleticism, combined with his strength, make him an option to run in behind as well as to hold up play for the team. While he has slowed down after an incredible early start, missing some key chances and making some poor decisions with the ball, his quality is undeniable, as shown with his 87th minute winner against Arsenal last month. As he develops as a player, he will continue to be a star forward for the Blues, and Harry Kane's long-term injury means he could very well be starting for England at the Euros this summer.
Reece James
Since his return from injury, Reece James has been getting better and better for Chelsea. In just half a season in the Premier League, he has shown himself to be one of the most promising fullbacks in the league. At 192 pounds, James is an absolute unit, and in his first start against Crystal Palace, locked down one of the best wingers in the league in Wilfred Zaha. However, his biggest strength is undoubtedly his delivery. Whenever he gets the ball on the right wing, he consistently puts in brilliant crosses into the perfect areas, and has already connected with Tammy Abraham several times. Bar some poor finishing from both Abraham and Michy Batshuayi, James could have had 6 assists already in the league alone. His attacking play has already drawn comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold, and in a few years time, it is possible that he could usurp his compatriot for a starting right-back role for England.
Fikayo Tomori
After a fine season under Lampard at Derby, winning Player of the Year, the centre-back arrived this season with Lampard at Chelsea relatively unknown in the top tier of England, but he very quickly made a name for himself. With both Rudiger and Christensen injured for some parts of the season, Tomori was quickly introduced into the team, and Chelsea's best period of the season came with a Tomori-Kurt Zouma partnership at the back. He has a solid passing range, is comfortable on the ball, and his blistering pace and good tackling ability means he is very hard to beat 1 on 1. With both Rudiger and Christensen returning from injury, he has seen his playtime slightly reduced at this stage of the season, but Chelsea's midseason dip in form in Tomori's absence may very well cause him to be pushed back into the starting lineup. Having already won his first England cap, he is certainly one to watch for the future, and the present.
Mason Mount
Another player who played under Lampard at Derby last season, Mount is as close a player to Lampard himself that Chelsea have seen for some time. He began the season in excellent form, with 4 goals and 1 assist in just 7 matches, and showed signs of the player he could become. His small stature is compensated by his desire, stamina, and pressing ability, dubbed "the best presser in the league". Although he has not kept this form up the entire season, registering only 1 more goal and 2 assists in the following 17 matches, and has struggled for consistency, his fine dribbling, passing, set-piece delivery, and long-range shooting will undoubtedly cause him to be a success at SW6.

All of these former academy players, combined with already-established former academy players such as Christensen, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, make Chelsea one of the most promising and exciting teams in Europe. Just as World Cup-winning Spain was once built using Barcelona's core, it is certainly possible that in 6 or 7 years, when they are all in their prime, Chelsea's current young core will help lead their nation to glory.