Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has revealed that Mamadou Sarr is in strong contention to make his long-awaited debut when the Blues face Hull City in tonight’s FA Cup fourth-round encounter.
The young defender, who officially joined the London side last summer from Strasbourg, spent the first half of the campaign back on loan in France before linking up with his new teammates last month.
With defensive options being carefully rotated during the demanding fixture schedule, Rosenior suggested the timing could be ideal for the French prospect to earn his first competitive minutes.
The Chelsea boss acknowledged the challenges players often face when joining a new club midway through the season but stressed that Sarr’s previous working relationship with him could ease the transition.
Rosenior noted that familiarity with his tactical demands and coaching style gives the youngster a valuable advantage as he continues to adapt to the squad’s structure and expectations.
While admitting that Sarr has only been fully integrated into the group for a short period, the manager expressed confidence in the defender’s readiness to contribute if called upon.
“Mamadou has a great chance to start the game,” said the manager.
“It’s very difficult for a player in January to move clubs, but the great thing for Mamadou is he’s been here before, he knows me very well, and knows my expectations and demands with the players.
“He’s only been here for a week, so he needs time to bed in and acclimatise, but I think he’s in a really good place and he’ll definitely see the pitch at some point on Friday.”
