What Cole Palmer and Reece James told Chelsea’s academy rising star after training

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is training more and more with the first team, and two stars from the senior group have given him encouragement.

Simon Johnson’s piece for the Athletic today about Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is very interesting, covering the 17 year old’s rise to the cusp of the first team, with a debut in the FA Cup this weekend still possible.

The teenager trained with the first team under Enzo Maresca, and has been invited back more recently under Liam Rosenior. You wouldn’t know it though – even his parents are complaining he keeps quiet when such things happen.

Chelsea first team stars’ encouraging words for teenage prodigy

We do get to find out what senior stars Cole Palmer and Reece James have said to him after recent sessions – Johnson reports that James told him he’s a “good player” and promised the youngster “your time is coming,” while Palmer is also said to have told the youngster he’d watched videos of some of his goals.

That’s great to hear – it’s all part of making sure we keep hold of your best young talents so we can see them thrive at Stamford Bridge. Let’s all hope for that debut this weekend…

Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail noted that Mykhailo Mudryk has had his contract amended – but nobody is really sure what that means.

Another thing Gill noted was how Cole Palmer was taking corners for England but not for Chelsea, something which might be worth trying.