Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte Includes 17-year-old Starlet Dujon Sterling in Champions League Squad to Face Roma

Chelsea have called up highly rated teenager Dujon Sterling to their Champions League squad ahead of Wednesday evening’s group match against Roma. The Blues currently top the standings in Group C thanks to their victory away to Atletico Madrid last time out, though must take on Serie A side Roma without a host of first-team stars. N’Golo Kante picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty with France, Alvaro Morata remains a doubt and Victor Moses was forced off against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

It is Moses’ unexpected absence that has seen Sterling added to Chelsea’s B list, as per UEFA.com, and the 17-year-old is now eligible to be in the matchday squad against Roma.

Although he has played in a variety of positions for Chelsea’s youth teams, Sterling is seen as being a perfect fit for the right wing-back role in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

It is where he made his debut for the club, against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, as he replaced Davide Zappacosta with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. Although Chelsea have other options in the position – such as Cesar Azpilicueta – Sterling appears to be the most natural backup to Zappacosta at RWB.

Sterling was involved in Tuesday’s open training session, along with other academy starlets Ethan Ampadu and Kyle Scott. Scott is also on the B list, as are Andreas Christensen, Jake Clarke-Salter and Charly Musonda.

It has also caused some to question exactly how long Moses will be out of action for, with some reports claiming 4-6 weeks – a period that would probably see him miss the remainder of the Champions League group stages.

Comments

Juventus Manager Allegri Signs Contract Extension Untill 2020

Massimiliano Allegri has signed a new contract with Juventus, keeping him with the Serie A side until 2020, the Turin outfit have confirmed. The 49-year-old will remain at Juventus Stadium for another three seasons, having guided the Old Lady to a third successive domestic double. Allegri helped Juve win the Serie A and Copa Italia titles this season, and guided them to the Champions League final. Since taking over at Juventus Stadium in 2014, he has won the domestic double each season and has a 69 per cent winning rate. The former midfielder had been linked with a move to Arsenal before Arsene Wenger agreed a new two-year deal, but will now remain in Turin until the end of the 2019-20 season. In a statement, Juventus said: "Juventus is pleased to announce that Massimiliano Allegri has signed a contract renewal at the club until 2020. "Today's agreement extends a working relationship that has seen the Bianconeri consolidate their position as Italy's...

Roma Midfielder Signs New Deal with Italian Club

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has signed a new four-year contract with the Serie A club. The 29-year-old Belgium international had been linked with Manchester United in Italian media, while Chelsea were also reported to be interested. This was coupled by suggestions that Nainggolan was growing impatient with the numerous delays in receiving a contract proposal from the capital club. However, the 29-year-old has put any doubts about his future to bed by extending his contract until 2021, in a deal that will see him earn €4.5 million per season, including bonuses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I think I have demonstrated that this is what I always wanted," Nainggolan said. "I'm very happy that the club and I can continue our adventure and move forward together." Nainggolan has played 161 times for Roma since joining from Cagliari in 2014. Nainggolan becomes the third senior central midfielder to extend their contract at Roma th...

Alexis Sanchez is just what Manchester United Need, Says Fortmer Tottenham Manager

The signing of a proven world-class forward such as Alexis Sanchez is just what Manchester United need to compete for the biggest prizes, former Tottenham manager Gerry Francis has said. Sanchez, 29, joined United on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Arsenal on Monday, 22 January, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the opposite direction in a straight-swap deal. "Sanchez is a real goal-scorer, he's talented and he's aggressive around the box and he makes things happen, he can pull teams through," he told Sky Sports.Francis described the Chilean forward as a match-winner who will aid United in their quest to win silverware by adding some much-needed potency to their attack. "It's [about] the present, you're looking to win trophies and looking to win competitions and, sometimes, you need to buy and have the finished article and Sanchez is certainly that. "It just makes them as a squad that much stronger. Certainly, a much bigger goal-threat with Sa...

Plauseorminus

Search This Blog