This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Beram Kayal, Jonathan Leko, Sam Field, Josh Cullen and Conor Gallagher.
All of these players were signed on loan deals by Charlton back in the summer, but none have performed as impressively as the last name on the list.
Having arrived from Chelsea, following a 2018/19 campaign in which he made the bench for the Blues’ Europa League final, one would assume that nobody expected Gallagher to perform this well.
The 19-year-old already has four goals and an assist in ten Championship starts for the Addicks, and won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for August.
It can often be tough to maintain a good run of form, but here are two reasons why Gallagher should try his best to.
He will get chances at Chelsea under Frank Lampard
With only two months of the campaign gone, Lampard has proven that he is willing to place his trust in young players if he feels they are good enough.
The former Chelsea No.8 has coaxed excellent results out of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, who have scored eight and four goals respectively in the Premier League this season.
Fikayo Tomori has also enjoyed a consistent role in the starting XI with five starts to his name, and seems confident in his own ability under Lampard – his long-range screamer against Wolves is proof of that.
Lampard values performances in the Championship
Forgetting the fact that the Chelsea boss is actually giving chances to young players, he clearly values good performances in the second tier.
Lampard has handed Tomori, Mount and Abraham the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge this summer, and all three of them are players who impressed in the Championship last season – Tomori and Mount helped Derby to the playoff final, whereas Abraham hit 26 goals for Aston Villa.
With so many footsteps to follow, the lively-looking Gallagher has plenty of reasons to keep impressing in the second tier.
