Its about time! - McEachran starts tomorrow!.

Getting back to football matters now and Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Josh McEachran will be handed his full first team debut against MSK Zilina tomorrow night in place of John Obi Mikel. Jeffrey Bruma is also handed a start as he comes in for the protected Alex. I had thought at the time that McEachran should have been handed a start for the Birmingham game last weekend as we lacked someone to get hold of the ball in midfield and open up their defence. Next to Malouda, McEachran would have been ideal. Tomorrow night in Mikel's holding role, with the play in front of him, young Josh has a chance to shine in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful. A Chance most of us have been asking for for a while now.


Carlo Ancelotti explained his decision in his pre match press conference and said:

"No news from the last game. Alex I want to protect, because we postponed the surgery because his reaction was very good. He didn't have a problem after the match but naturally he will not be involved tomorrow. We want to protect him to prepare for the next game.

Bruma will play from the beginning and also McEachran from the beginning. Turnbull will play in goal, Bruma as a centre-back and McEachran as holding midfielder.

Mikel has a little problem on his knee and maybe he will go on the bench but it is time for McEachran to play. He showed good attitude and personality, and it is a good moment for him to have this chance.

Our aim, in the Champions League, is to win the group. Tomorrow we have the possibility to close this group. We don't want a surprise in the last game at Marseille, so we have a great possibility.

Now in this moment everything seems wrong, and we are at the top of the table and we won four games in the Champions League. We have to have control of this situation, it's a difficult moment, but we did something good.

We are in the top of the Premier League and can win the Champions League group."

A great performance tomorrow night to win the group should give our squad the lift they need ahead of the long trip to Newcastle at the weekend. I am pleased that Josh and Bruma have their chance now.

Let's hope they take it with both hands!
KTBFFH