Thomas Tuchel promotes Chelsea wonderkid to first-team squad for FA Cup clash

Chelsea: Tuchel opens up on Kante's injury struggles

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Chelsea face Barnsley on Thursday night for a chance to make it into the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Thomas Tuchel is planning on mixing things up, and has followed his promotion of Tino Anjorin to the first team with another youngster who has impressed for the U23s.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has promoted youngster Lewis Bate to his first team for the FA Cup clash with Barnsley.

The Blues travel to the Championship side this evening as they look to book a place in the quarter finals of the cup.

And Tuchel is seemingly planning on naming a youthful side, having given Tino Anjorin another chance to impress by including him in the travelling squad.

Anjorin will be joined though by 18-year-old midfielder Bate, who picked up the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award in December.

JUST IN: Tuchel makes Kepa vow as Chelsea star set to face Barnsley tonight

Bate is yet to make his senior debut for the club, and is unlikely to start, but could come on off the bench.

One man who is set to feature from the off in midfielder is Billy Gilmour, who has not had much of a look in under Tuchel so far, though the German insists he has big plans for the young Scot.

“Right now he is one of four players for central midfield, with Kovacic, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante,” said Tuchel.

“That makes it not easy for Billy to find his place, but he is the number four right now in my head, and to be the number four out of two positions is a pretty good start for Billy.

“I wanted him absolutely to stay because he has a big impact in training games and his quality is obvious.

“We are happy to have him and are absolutely ready to push him and help him on his way.”

Meanwhile, Tuchel has confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start ahead of Edouard Mendy to help the £71m signing build his confidence back up again.

“It’s very important for me to say this: he doesn’t have to overachieve,” added Tuchel.

“I want him to play a normal match tomorrow. He does not have to show me or anybody else tomorrow he is ready to be Spain’s number one in the summer.

“He just has to show his quality. Not more or less. So we have to manage expectations because I don’t expect him to score and keep a clean sheet.

“I just want him to help us with his quality and for him to give a solid performance to help the team. He has big goals to achieve and big personal ambition. But this is normal; it’s why he’s here.

“No goalkeeper wants to sit on the bench, I understand that. And none of my guys want to travel tomorrow to sit on the bench.

“The situation for Kepa is the situation he finds right now. We didn’t make a change in the first games and Edou was strong in the moment.”

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