“Delighted with him!” – Big-tackling Cobham product starring in the Championship already | OneFootball

When we were writing about Josh Acheampong earlier, we noted that he’s an academy produced centre back who plays as a right back, and should certainly be used more by Enzo Maresca who has insisted on using Axel Disasi on the right in the second string so far this season.

That reminded us of something last year – Alfie Gilchrist. He was also an academy produced centre back, who Mauricio Pochettino used as a right back when injuries were really limiting our options. He grabbed his chance and impressed whenever he was on the pitch, and that earned him a really nice loan move to Sheffield United this season.

So how is he getting on in the Championship? Let’s check in.

The most important thing in a loan is playing regularly, and that box is very much ticked. Gilchrist has started all of the Blades’ 5 league games this season. Now 20 years old, that Premier League experience picked up under Pochettino has really counted in his favour.

New manager raves about Cobham kid’s attitude

Sheffield United are loving Gilchrist’s blood and thunder attitude just as Chelsea fans did, and their manager Chris Wilder has also praised the defender’s work ethic

“You want to see him in training,” said Wilder in quote picked up by Football.London.

“The amount of badges he gets on his body and the blocks he gets in. There’s an art to that and there’s an attitude to that. Even in training, he’s determined that the ball isn’t going into the back of the net. He’s got a real grit about him and we’re delighted with him.”

So – that’s one loan going incredibly well. There’s a suspicion that Alfie may have a slight hamstring injury, and he’s a doubt for this weekend’s game against Derby – but he’s already done more than enough to ensure he’s going to be a regular all year.