Josh McEachran eChelseaFC Young Player Of The Year

One of the most exciting developments of last season was the emergence of Josh McEachran who broke into the first team set up at the tender age of seventeen.

Having joined Chelsea aged eight, McEachran progressed through the youth and reserve ranks ahead of his peers becoming an integral part of the FA Youth Cup and England U17 European Championship winning sides in 2010.

The central midfielder made his first steps towards the senior squad in pre-season starting games against Crystal Palace and Ajax and featuring against Hamburg.

This was followed by a first team debut against MSK Zilna in the Champions League in September, coming on as a second half substitute in a comfortable Chelsea victory.

The reverse fixture saw the midfielder make his full debut for the club as Carlo Ancelotti rotated his squad with qualification to the knockout stages already assured.

McEachran made his most memorable performance of the season in the Carling Cup coming off the bench to inspire a ten man Chelsea side to come back from a two goal deficit.

In this performance he controlled the game and it seem unjust that such a good performance was not rewarded with a Chelsea victory as the Blues conceded in injury time to lose 4-3.

In the FA Cup McEachran started against Ipswich and played a key part in a Chelsea performance that rendered seven goals. .

Despite a number of substitute appearances and starts in the FA Cup and Champions League group stages it was not until the penultimate game of the season that he made his full league debut against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Throughout the season McEachran was an almost permanent fixture on the bench and although actual appearances were sporadic he had become a fans favourite.

His squad number no.46 started to appear on the backs of fans wearing replica shirts and he became the star of his own terrace chant which poked fun at his age and youthful appearance.

“Josh McEachrans’ having a party, bring your Vodka and your Charlie”

His success was also recognised by England under 21’s manager Stuart Pearce who called him into his squad for November’s fixture against Germany giving his debut as a late substitute.

This year has been a landmark year for the investment made in the youth set up at the club; McEachran represents the first academy player since Carlton Cole to feature regularly for the first team.

This gives fans hope that we will see more young players pushing for a place in the senior side in previous years making McEachran the only realistic candidate for ‘eChelseaFC Young Player of the Year’.