Chelsea will not fast-track their England Under-17 players despite their World Cup success.
Four Chelsea youngsters — Callum Hudson-Odoi, Marc Guehi, Jonathan Panzo and George McEachran — started the thrilling 5-2 victory over Spain while Conor Gallagher came on as a substitute in Saturday’s final in Kolkata.
Chelsea are delighted with their contribution to England’s success, but things are not expected to change significantly for the players on their return to the club.
It means the Blues expect them to carry on the same path they were on before the tournament, playing for the youth teams with a loan in the future most likely.
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However, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has shown he is prepared to play youngsters, twice picking Ethan Ampadu since the 17‑year‑old joined from Exeter for £3million this summer.
However, that was in the Carabao Cup and it is now a competition they have a chance to win after reaching the quarter-finals so further opportunities could be limited.
The quintet have made a number of appearances for the club’s youth teams, with striker Hudson-Odoi particularly rated by Chelsea’s staff and he has trained with the first‑team squad. Meanwhile McEachran is the brother of Josh, who came up through the ranks at Chelsea but left for Brentford in 2015 after only a handful of first‑team appearances.
Chelsea’s Academy has become renowned for producing talent in recent years but no one has gone on to become a first-team regular.
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England Under-17s top scorer at the World Cup, Rhian Brewster, quit the Blues two years ago because he felt he had a better chance to progress at Liverpool.
Conte said: “I think that I am the best person to give this type of possibility if I see that a young player deserves it.
“Ampadu for example, is another player — not England, but on 17 and he deserves to stay with us, and then develop and to be the future for Chelsea.”
The England team arrive back in the country today and the FA are yet to disclose any plans to mark the team’s success.
However, the FA did announce this morning that Rotherham’s New York Stadium will host the final of the European Under-17 Championship on May 20 next year.
Burton, Chesterfield, Walsall, Loughborough University and the National Football Centre at St George’s Park will also stage matches in the tournament.
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