These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Academy players tipped to make debut

Chelsea will face Morecambe on Sunday in the third round of the FA Cup and there are a few youth players that could make their debuts.

The Blues will look to return to winning ways and some youngsters could be given a chance to prove themselves on the big stage.

According to the Metro, Henry Lawrence, Lewis Bate, Tino Livramento and Jude Soonsup-Bell have been training with the first team ahead of Sunday’s tie.

Tino Anjorin, who made his Champions League debut earlier this season, has also reportedly been training with the squad.

Soonsup-Bell turns 17 on Sunday and has already created Blues history earlier this season by becoming the first Academy player to score four goals in one FA Youth Cup game in 59 years against Barnsley.

Morecambe boss ready for Blues challenge

Morecambe manager Derek Adams believes his side have nothing to lose as they prepare to face Frank Lampard’s men in the next round of the FA Cup.

Morecambe have reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in 18 years and have finally returned to first-team training after 10 days of isolation due to coronavirus concerns.

‘We are preparing for the game on Sunday, along with all the other teams in the FA Cup we get tested again 72 hours before the game, and we’ll see from there,’ he said.

‘They are looking forward to the game on Sunday, and they are in good spirits. We’re fine, and we have no injuries going into the game.’

Adams also believes it will make no difference playing without fans in such a big fixture for the club. He thinks it might take the pressure off his team.

According to Adams, this is a heavyweight against lightweight fixture his side have been dreaming of.

‘You’ve got Tyson Fury, who has a gym in the corner of our stadium, a heavyweight in Chelsea against a lightweight in Morecambe,’ the Scot said to the BBC.

‘Morecambe have waited years for a tie like this. It’s fantastic for the town.’

Hodgson backs Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi will get his chance at Selhurst Park, possibly as soon as their upcoming FA Cup clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 73-year-old has also stated that he still has confidence in the Belgian who is on his second loan spell at the club.

‘I haven’t lost any confidence in Batshuayi at all, he is still the player he was,’ Hodgson said in his press conference that was reported in FourFourTwo.

‘I suppose to some extent the fact that Christian Benteke has got a chance and taken it so well and we decided to play Wilfred Zaha in a forward position has worked against him.’

The Englishman let it be known that Batshuayi is still an important player for Palace and performing against Wolves can set him on his way to a good 2021.

‘He will still be a very important player for us and at the end of the season, if we have reached our goal, I’m pretty certain he will be up there with the rest of the players receiving plaudits.’