Chelsea youngster Michael Golding has been training with the club’s first team this week.
It is usually the case that members of the development squad are added to the senior ranks during the international break when most players are away from Cobham.
However, Golding was pictured with the first team on Thursday morning, when the vast majority of players have returned to training.
It appears that manager Mauricio Pochettino has taken a liking to the 17-year-old, who has yet to make his senior debut.
What do Chelsea fans need to know about Golding?
The teenager was signed from AFC Wimbledon when he was in the Under 12s and he has spent the best part 6 years working his way up the youth ranks at Chelsea.
Golding has been a regular starter for the Under 18s, and he was handed his first appearance for the Under 21s against Cheltenham’s senior team in the EFL Trophy last year.
Where does Golding play?
The 17-year-old is a central midfielder by trade, and he is known for his creativity and work rate.
Golding is also a goal threat, regularly getting on the scoresheet for both club and country, having racked up 5 goals for Chelsea’s Under 18s and 4 for England’s Under 17s.
Golding is a leader
Having captained England’s Under 16s regularly, he kept the armband when he moved up to the England Under 17s.
At this summer’s European Championships, Golding led out his team as the Three Lions finished top of their group before losing to France in the quarter-finals.
He has subsequently made two appearances for England’s Under 18s, coming on as a substitute in the 4-0 friendly defeat to Japan last week, as well as starting in a 2-1 loss to Portugal.
