Kurt Zouma played his first competitive football since February, starting for Chelsea in the Premier League 2 against Derby County. His mixed performance is less important than the simple fact of completing 45 minutes of football.
Kurt Zouma progressed through training with the youth sides over the last few weeks. He played a “prescribed” first half against Derby County yesterday, conceding a penalty kick in the 35th minute that allowed the Rams to go up 1-0.
U23 manager Adi Viveash played Zouma on the right side of the back-line in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Viveash’s implementation of a 3-4 defence-midfield is a hopeful sign that the young players are truly training for Chelsea’s first team.
Zouma partnered with Fikayo Tomori and Trevor Chalobah in the back, while Fankaty Dabo and Jay Dasilva were the wing-backs. Each of these players, with the possible exception of Trevor Chalobah, are among the Academy’s top prospects for Chelsea’s first team. Although, as we have learned, never count out a Chalobah.
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Zouma’s placement on the right side of the U23’s back-line speaks only to Viveash’s needs for his side and his reading of Zouma’s place in the U23 line-up. Zouma is still some time off from being in Antonio Conte’s starting XI. The “odd man out” game (Cahill? Azpilicueta??) is equally a bit over the horizon still.
Conte solved many of Chelsea’s defensive woes with the switch to the 3-4-3, including repurposing Cesar Azpilicueta as a centre-back. This alleviated the sense of urgency to bring Kurt Zouma back into the line-up, particularly with three straight clean sheets.
If Antonio Conte names Zouma to his squad for tomorrow’s EFL Cup tie against West Ham, Zouma will play no more than another 45 minutes. Zouma is probably spending most of his time today with the medical staff. They will be performing a full work-up on how his ACL handled yesterday’s play. Their recommendation will be highly specific on what Conte can, should and absolutely must not do with the Frenchman.
Zouma would likely appear as a substitute against West Ham. He would come on if Chelsea had a comfortable lead and the match was not overly scrappy or physical. If West Ham are playing a hard-tackling, aerially-demanding game, Conte may choose to keep Zouma in reserve.
Such a clash would typically be ideal for Zouma. Conte would not want to inject Zouma into a situation where Zouma’s eagerness and competitiveness could get the better of him. After all the patience to get to this point, Chelsea cannot afford a set back in Zouma’s recovery.
Next: Chelsea's predicted starting XI for EFL Cup tie against West Ham
Kurt Zouma is at the stage in his recovery where he is bursting with impatience. He wants to rejoin his teammates and return to top-tier football. The entire Blue world wants the same. Chelsea’s staff must rein in his enthusiasm – and their own – for his return and do the right thing for the long-term.