This month has been quite the highlight for Chelsea youngster Tyrique George. Earlier in April he scored his first senior goal for the Blues against Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Conference League. It was an important goal as George opened the scoring against a stubborn Legia side that was content to sit back and absorb the pressure from Chelsea.
On Sunday he scored an even more important goal as he sparked the comeback against Fulham with his first ever Premier League strike. He came on with just over 10 minutes to go in the match and took full advantage of his opportunity with a well taken goal in the 83rd minute. It was the equalizer that Chelsea desperately needed and allowed Pedro Neto to score the winner in stoppage time.
In his postmatch comments, fellow Chelsea academy graduate Levi Colwill was full of praise for his young teammate:
"We all know how good of a player he is, to come in and score gives him a confidence boost. Hopefully he keeps pushing and he tries getting into our side, because that’s why he’s here, because he’s an amazing player. He’s not there to sit on the bench. He’s there to come on and play."Colwill on Tyrique George
After several impressive performances in the Conference League this season and a very impressive April, we expect George to be one of the first names on Enzo Maresca’s team sheet moving forward. He has largely been used as a rotational player in Europe and in the early stages of the FA Cup but he has earned a place in the starting lineup moving forward.
George plays the game with a directness that Chelsea has lacked from their wingers and he has no fear when running at defenders. He can play any of the front three positions including striker but that may be too much responsibility to place on his shoulders from the opening kickoff.
Maresca has opted for Jadon Sancho on the left wing in the big matches but he has rotated left wing based on injury and fitness and that is where George should come in. Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto have been solid there as well but George brings another gear and fearlessness that the Blues are sorely lacking.
Even if he is not one of the first names on the team sheet he should definitely be the first name called off the bench as a substitute. Chelsea have struggled to get much production from their wingers until Sancho and George decided to start scoring this month and they appear to have a great chemistry between them.
George has the ability to change games even at his young age and his emergence could change Chelsea’s transfer plans this summer if he continues to develop. The club may opt to splash the cash on a striker and goalkeeper versus digging deep to spend £100 million or so on a left winger while George is available.
Regardless of what the club decides to do this summer it is clear that Tyrique George is another Cobham academy graduate that is ready for the big leagues. He should be rewarded for his contributions with more minutes and he will pay even greater dividends than he already has this season.