Two long lost Chelsea midfielders could yet feature this season

Whenever the Premier League returns, Chelsea can make use of Lewis Baker or Marco van Ginkel to keep other players fresh in the long haul.

Given how long the Premier League has paused, it would make sense to allow a new round of player registration upon the resumption of play. Many players who had been out injured are now returning and could now be named to the squads that see out the season.

Chelsea has a pretty deep squad as it is, but the sheer amount of games expected to be played in such a short amount of time after such a long layoff will wear on their bodies. Squad’s may have to dig deeper to finish things up. Chelsea can revive two long lost midfielders for a last chance to wear Blue or perhaps become phoenixes rising from the ashes.

Lewis Baker and Marco van Ginkel were both expected to be stars of Chelsea by now. It did not work out that way and both remain in limbo at the club. It does not have to be a main focus, but Frank Lampard could give both a run out just to see what they have to offer. If nothing else, it could give potential buyers an eye into what the players possess.

Baker came up in the same class as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and many regarded him as Chelsea’s best youth player of the generation as well. But overall, his loans were poorly planned or poorly executed. Vitesse was his third loaned club and it took him until his second season there to really find his feet.

Then it all came crashing down in the Championship. Baker barely played for Middlesbrough. Leeds United was little better. Reading offered a good restart but his golden development years had largely passed wasted. He was sent to Fortuna Dusseldorf where he did fine in a few appearances, but then it all collapsed and the deal was cancelled this January. Since then he has been at Chelsea biding his time.

Van Ginkel’s is a harder one to swallow. He very much looked like the Lampard heir apparent until his first major injury. When he finally returned, he made a big jump to AC Milan but remained injury plagued. A loan to Stoke fell apart and he went to PSV, leading the club to two titles in his season and a half there. Unfortunately, he picked up another major injury from which he is only now recovered.

Neither of these players likely have much of a chance of making it at Chelsea. But they could be used in this run in as other players get tired around them. Baker did have flashes of quality and though he has not lived up to his potential, it has not totally gone away. Van Ginkel, when fit, has largely been the player he was believed to be when Chelsea bought him. At the very least, the Blues could put both into the shop window if they are used in the right matches. At most, Chelsea can discover they are sitting on players they can still use in the future.

It is a long shot and they would likely require the league allowing a new phase of registration, but if possible, the Blues have nothing to lose by giving them at least one opportunity. Especially if the FA Cup resumes as well, Chelsea could find some time for these players as they give the main squad midfielders a day or a few minutes off.