Chelsea's busy midweeks are the perfect opportunity for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall right now
Chelsea’s Dewsbury-Hall Finding His Place in the ‘B Team’ #
Despite completing his first 90 minutes in nearly four weeks during Chelsea’s 5-0 victory over a League Two side, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s current position in Chelsea’s ‘B team’ might be exactly where he needs to be.
The midfielder has had limited Premier League appearances this season, starting just three times for Chelsea, none of which have come in the league. He has accumulated only 44 minutes from three substitute appearances in England’s top division.
Dewsbury-Hall’s transition to Chelsea hasn’t been smooth. He started pre-season training still recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the end of the previous Championship campaign. Illness also prevented him from featuring in a recent match.
Chelsea’s head coach acknowledged that Dewsbury-Hall is adapting to the realities of playing for a team where he isn’t the main player, as he was at his previous club. Last season, Dewsbury-Hall featured in almost every game for his former team, starting 43 out of 53 games and contributing significantly to goals and assists.
The midfielder’s arrival at Chelsea was met with some negativity from supporters, as it coincided with uncertainty surrounding a fan favorite player in a similar position. This has added pressure on Dewsbury-Hall to prove himself.
However, being part of the ‘midweek’ group may allow Dewsbury-Hall to make his mark without the same pressure he would face in the ‘A team’. Chelsea’s busy schedule, with numerous midweek games upcoming, will likely provide more starting opportunities for him.
In the recent match against the League Two side, Dewsbury-Hall initially struggled to get into the game but became more involved as the match progressed. He ended up with the most shots on goal of any Chelsea player, showing signs of growing confidence.
The Chelsea head coach confirmed that players not starting in Premier League matches will have opportunities to start in other competitions, which bodes well for Dewsbury-Hall’s playing time.
While it hasn’t been an easy start for Dewsbury-Hall at Chelsea, there are indications that things are looking up as he finds his place in the team.