Chelsea will play a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth this weekend, giving manager Xabi Alonso another opportunity to assess the progress of 16-year-old Reggie Watson.
Watson has emerged as an unexpected first-team prospect since Alonso took charge this summer. The midfielder usually plays for Chelsea’s Under-21 side, known as Cobham Next Gen, but has already been named in two senior League Cup matchday squads.
He was an unused substitute for the second-round win over Luton Town before making his senior debut from the start against Leeds United. Watson played the opening 45 minutes of Chelsea’s 6-3 victory at Stamford Bridge, underlining how quickly he has moved through the club’s academy system.
Alonso’s confidence in the teenager was evident during pre-season, when Chelsea travelled to Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. Watson played alongside senior players and completed the full 90 minutes in the opening friendly against Western Sydney Wanderers.
He also featured in two behind-closed-doors matches before the squad left for Australia. Football.london, which attended Chelsea’s game at AAMI Park, reported that Watson was prepared to compete physically despite his age.
His performances earned him three further appearances during the tour. Watson’s maturity and competitive approach reportedly impressed Alonso, contributing to the manager’s decision to start him against Leeds last month.
The teenager is yet to be included in a Premier League matchday squad this season. He travelled with the team for the fixture against Brentford before the international break but was left out of the final squad. Fellow academy product Moises Caicedo was unavailable, while Jamal Murray appeared as a substitute.
Watson has continued to make an impression for Cobham Next Gen and was one of three Chelsea players nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for September. Chizaram Ezenwata and Rio Blake were the other nominees.
Blake had recently agreed a two-year contract after a successful trial, while Watson’s nomination came after he scored three goals during the month. His progress has continued to attract the attention of Chelsea’s first-team coaching staff.
The friendly with Portsmouth is being arranged to help players retain match fitness during the international break, according to football.london. With Cobham Next Gen also without a fixture this weekend, Watson is expected to have another chance to work in front of Alonso’s staff.
A regular place in Chelsea’s senior squad may still be some way off because of Watson’s age, but his recent involvement suggests he is advancing quickly through the club’s ranks.
