Antonio Conte has spoken highly of teenager Ethan Ampadu, who could make his Chelsea debut in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup game against Nottingham Forest.
Ampadu, 17, signed for Chelsea in the summer after breaking into the Exeter City first team at the age of just 15 — and Antonio Conte has suggested that the teenager is in line for his first Chelsea appearance when Nottingham Forest visit Stamford Bridge.
According to ESPN, the 5’9″ defensive midfielder will be on the bench for Wednesday night’s cup tie; and Antonio Conte reserved special praise for him ahead of the game:
Ampadu is a young player, but I think he has good quality,
He has good prospects to become a Chelsea player. He’s strong physically, with good technique and personality.
Yes, I think we have to continue to work with him and to try and improve him, to bring him to the next step. But for sure he has good prospects to become a Chelsea player.
Eden Hazard will be making his first start since returning from injury in the Carabao Cup fixture, but it could be youth that make the headlines, with Dujon Sterling another player who could feature on the bench with Ampadu.
Conte has not been shy about whether or not he is prepared to field his teenage prospects, either:
If a player, an old player, 36 years old, makes me happy and helps me to win, I pick him. It’s the same if a player, a young player, 16 years old, helps me to win, I’m ready to do this also
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest will kick-off at 19:45 on Wednesday night.
