Carney Chukwuemeka makes a return to his former playing home of Villa Park relatively quickly as a member of the Chelsea squad, and having been handed his Blues debut a week ago, the 18-year-old has reasons for optimism it could be a playing return too.
The summer signing played 16 senior games for Aston Villa over the past two seasons, including when his new club visited there in May 2021. Late in the second half last Saturday he added a Chelsea men’s first team appearance to that number when he came on at Stamford Bridge against another West Midlands side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He described that experience as amazing, adding, ‘I’ve dreamed of playing for the club I have supported growing up, so it is a dream come true. It is just the first of many hopefully.
‘Before coming on, he [Graham Potter] just told me to express myself, to play how I have been in training and to play with a smile, and I think I did which is good.’
Chukwuemeka felt a boost from the reception the fans gave him when he entered the pitch and as well as supporters helping him to bed in, his team-mates have too.
‘We are very tight as a group, we look after one another, there is no one left out and the togetherness is really good,’ said the midfielder. ‘They brought me into it as a youngster coming in so I am grateful to the players who have helped me settle.’
If more action comes his way today, it is a chance to help the Blues continue our good run of results.
‘Back-to-back wins and clean sheets, it is something to build on to try to achieve something this season,’ he says.