Chelsea are running short on options on the wing and this may lead to an important opportunity for youngster Tyrique George. Jadon Sancho has not impressed in recent months, Pedro Neto is playing as a center forward, and Mykhailo Mudryk is still suspended so there are not many options left for Enzo Maresca.
In the last Premier League match, Maresca started Sancho on one wing and Christopher Nkunku on the other with the latter having the much better game. Nkunku scored and assisted a goal before coming off in the closing stages of the match feeling relieved at finally making an impact.
Sancho had a solid game as well but was replaced in the 68th minute by George and the youngster made his impact felt on the game. 10 minutes after coming on, George skipped past the Southampton fullback in the box and squared a perfect ball for Marc Cucurella to smash home for the fourth goal of the night.
After impressing against the Saints and in other recent cameo appearances, George is on his way to earning another start for the Blues in the UEFA Conference League or Premier League. George last started in the UECL in a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in December and could be called upon to face Copenhagen in the first leg of the last 16 matchup.
The Chelsea Academy product was touted as a potential replacement for Nico Jackson as a center forward but that never materialized with Maresca opting for more experience there. With Neto proving the best option to lead the line, George makes perfect sense as a replacement for the largely ineffective Sancho or even Nkunku who has not shown a willingness to run at defenders.
George presents a different physical profile to Nkunku who prefers the ball at his feet and to create chances with his trickery. The youngster has plenty of pace and can use that to run in behind and keep the Copenhagen defense on its toes with his physicality.
He is yet to record a goal for the senior Chelsea squad but does have three assists to his name in 13 appearances. In the Chelsea U23 and U19 teams he has been much more prolific with 14 goals and 13 assists in his last 40 appearances across both squads. He is one of the more highly rated youngsters in the Chelsea setup and has done enough to earn a start in some of the important matches coming up in March.