It will be a scandal if this starlet is overlooked by Enzo Maresca in Conference League semis | OneFootball

Those of us who are aware of what’s going on at Chelsea from top to bottom have known about Tyrique George for a long time. The academy fans have been excited about him for a while, and the occasional clips that would pop up on our timelines were enough to get us very excited.

His gradual progression to the first team this season has meant we’ve had a very solid look at him now – he’s played 588 minutes in the Conference League this season, 6th most of anyone in the squad.

But it was his goal against Fulham at the weekend that brought him to the attention of most people, and prompted the likes of TransferMarkt to do a little piece about him.

As they point out, George has had a ridiculously tough uphill battle to earn minutes for Enzo Maresca. He’s had to compete with Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Cole Palmer, Omari Kellyman and Jadon Sancho for minutes – that’s €342m’s worth of signings.

Yet on Sunday it was George that Maresca turned to for a goal, and it was George who delivered.

George has earned his place in squad, and more starts

Tyrique George runs. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The next step for George is the Conference League semi finals. It would be a scandal if he didn’t start against Djurgardens, having done so much to get us this far. Yet Maresca didn’t start him in the second leg against Legia Warsaw, curiously.

The question should be over whether George starts in the Premier League, not over whether he starts in the Conference League, that should be assured.

He is offering more up top than an out of form Nicolas Jackson at the moment, and more out wide than most of our other options have in a disappointing year all round for them.

This isn’t just the Chelsea fan in us speaking – it’s obvious George needs to be trusted with more minutes.