Mason Burstow on what he learned in Chelsea preseason – and how he ended up at Sunderland | OneFootball

Mason Burstow ended up playing a surprisingly important role in Chelsea’s preseason, as the squad was overhauled around him.

He came off the bench multiple times to play up front and relieve Nicolas Jackson, our only fit number 9 at that point, and even scored a goal against Dortmund with pretty much the last touch of the preseason. He had a place on the bench in Chelsea’s early Premier League games, before being sent on loan to Sunderland.

He’s just spoken to the Sunderland Echo about how that move came to be, and revealed some interesting stuff about his potential future:

“I knew at the start of the window there was interest,” Burstow explained.

“It was mainly to buy me but then Chelsea weren’t having it and obviously I was part of Chelsea being on the bench a few times and coming on.

“Eventually Pochettino gave me the go ahead to go out on loan and that’s when Sunderland came straight back in.

“I knew they had interest the whole window, I knew they were watching me which made it a no brainer to come here.”

The youngster also had plenty to say about what it was like training with such top players, not long after coming out of non league football:

“It was amazing,” replied Burstow when asked about his summer at Chelsea. “Obviously they are all elite players playing for an elite club and the gaffer is as good as can be.

“Learning from him and learning from the players I have been watching week in, week out is good.

“There are a few that get in contact with me (at Chelsea) now and make sure I’m settling in, asking about what the game plan is, the games ahead, just so when they’re watching they have an understanding as well.

“They are staying in contact and making sure I stay on the right track as well.”

Burstow looked hard working with an eye for goal when he was playing on our US tour, and we really hope a season in the Championship helps him develop quickly. There’s no reason he can’t play an even more significant role next summer.