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Tom Coley

Chelsea youngster delivers four-word message to Thomas Tuchel with chance to impress on USA tour

Amongst the throng of bodies on a pre-season tour, with space taken up on Chelsea's trip to America by Ross Barkley, Kennedy and Michy Batshuayi, it would be easy to miss out on the exciting youngsters involved.

Outside of the higher profile loan returnees, Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour, Ethan Ampadu, and Levi Colwill, there were also inclusions for Harvey Vale and Teddy Sharman-Lowe as Thomas Tuchel looks to judge some of the Blues' best talents in person.

It's a select group of 29 that has frustrated some fans due to the lack of ruthless edge. Taking first team opportunities away from Charlie Webster or Ian Maatsen, in favour of Barkley and co, arguably seems ill-advised.

READ MORE: John Terry gives honest verdict on Raheem Sterling to Chelsea transfer after medical 'completed'

That enhances the feeling of true opportunity for those who have made the trip. Amongst the group is 20-year-old starlet, Tino Anjorin. The attacking midfielder had a strange 2021/22 campaign, first leaving London for Lokomotiv Moscow under the guidance of Ralph Rangnick, a close friend of Tuchel, to then be bought back in January as the Austrian manager joined Manchester United.

That wasn't the end of the season for Anjorin though, as he went on to help push Huddersfield into the play-off final, spending three months with Colwill in West Yorkshire. Anjorin has been talked about as being similar in style to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with similar stature and close dribbling, but he hasn't had the same senior football experience of those who have gone before him in creating a pathway to first team action.

However, as Chelsea look to offload some of their high wage and high profile attacking options further forward, this chance in America, no matter how brief or how small, does allow Anjorin the chance to impress Tuchel.

He has also spoken with his manager about preparations, saying in a video with Tuchel at Cobham, "yeah, yeah, I'm ready." And ready Anjorin will have to be. Due to his relative lack of senior football there is a lot to prove in matches against Club America, Charlotte, Arsenal and Udinese, but if Tuchel is willing to offer the youngster the chance to improve on his one Chelsea start to date, they could have a star on their hands at Cobham.

There has already been Premier League interest in the player, with Southampton stating their desire to sign him in January. Although talks of a move away from Stamford Bridge have gone quiet, and Huddersfield's failure to gain promotion saw any return move to the John Smith's Stadium cut short, for a player as talented as Anjorin, there will be suitors if word of any discontent get out.

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