Alfie Gilchrist has been a regular face for Sheffield United on loan this season, starting 13 of their 15 games in the Championship, and John Terry is tipping the player to return to Chelsea and break into the first team
Chelsea legend John Terry has claimed young defender Alfie Gilchrist “reminds me of myself” after being overlooked by boss Enzo Maresca.
Gilchrist has emerged as one of the club’s brightest talents after coming through the academy and earned 17 appearances for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino last season.
However, he wasn’t able to impress his successor Maresca in pre-season as he was sent to the club’s “bomb squad” of players not included in the Italian’s first-team plans – before being shipped out to Championship side Sheffield United on loan.
Gilchrist has been a regular face for the Blades this season, starting 13 of their 15 games in the Championship and helping them reach second in the table as they eye an instant return to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old will hope his displays at Bramall Lane have not gone unnoticed as he bids to claw his way into Maresca’s team next season and Terry has talked up the player’s ability, saying he sees similarities to himself after working with him as a Chelsea youth coach.
He told the Daily Mail: “Literally from the first training session in which I saw him, he reminded me of myself. He was keen to learn, asking me questions about defending and constantly picking my brains over what I would do in different situations.
“And he’s 100 per cent in everything he does. Whether that’s the warm-up to get him going, he’s all-in. You don’t ever want to take that away. Even on his recovery days, he’s 100 miles per hour. As he gets older, he’ll understand how to manage that and how to be. But it’s a great trait to have for a young player and it can certainly set you apart.
“If you’re at Chelsea, you’ve got great ability in the first place to be there. But it’s really important for younger players to have that mentality and Alfie had that in abundance even from an early age.”
Gilchrist has some way to go to reach Terry’s level – after the former club captain won five Premier League trophies, five FA Cups and the Champions League, playing 717 times in total and becoming one of the club’s greatest ever players.
But Terry tipped him for success and believes Gilchrist will have his sights set on breaking into the first team of his beloved club.
“Hopefully, he comes back to Chelsea and breaks through into our team,” Terry added. “When you see the journeys of these young players, and you play a small part in helping them, it’s really rewarding for me, being Chelsea through and through.
“I love it. Alfie and all of his family are Chelsea, too, so I know deep down he wants to come back and break through.”
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