Anjorin trains with Chelsea first team before trip to Belfast; aims to emulate Babayaro, Kanu

Published: August 09, 2021

Anglo-Nigerian midfielder Faustino Anjorino is still in contention to be named in Chelsea's traveling squad to Belfast, where they will take on Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

The England youth international participated in Chelsea's workout held at Chelsea Training Ground in Cobham on Monday, a day before their trip to Northern Ireland.

But it remains to be seen if he is selected by manager Thomas Tuchel in his matchday 23 to face the Yellow Submarine as he is not yet in tip-top condition after recovering from coronavirus.

Of the 35 players utilized by the German football tactician during pre-season, only Finnish goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom (23 minutes) played fewer minutes than Anjorin.

Anjorin's only pre-season appearance was against London opposition, featuring for 30 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Mind Series.

Chelsea previously appeared in four Super Cups, losing to Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool, and beat Real Madrid to lift the trophy in 1998.

Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea) and Nwankwo Kanu (Ajax Amsterdam) won the Super Cup as teenagers and Anjorin will be aiming to emulate the former Super Eagles stars.

Kanu was aged 19 years, 6 months and 27 days when he started Ajax's 4-0 rout of Real Zaragoza in the 1996 Super Cup, while Babayaro was 19 years, 11 months and 30 days when he went the distance for Chelsea against Real Madrid in the 1998 Super Cup.

Anjorin will be aged 19 years and 261 days, if he helps Chelsea beat Villarreal on August 11.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com

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