5 players who could benefit from Chelsea’s Europa League campaign

Chelsea haven’t started the season in the Europa League since the 2002/03 season, and an awful lot has changed since then. Back then it was the UEFA Cup, and Roman Abramovich hadn’t taken over the Blues.

Obviously, the Europa League is unlikely to take priority at Stamford Bridge this season. Maurizio Sarri has been bought in to improve Chelsea’s Premier League performance, which saw them finish fifth last season and miss out on a spot in the Champions League.

This may not be too much of a problem, as the same could have been said in the 2012/13 season, where they dropped out of the Champions League, and actually went on to win the Europa League, beating Benfica in the final, under the management of Rafael Benitez.

Sarri has already made clear that the Europa League isn’t too important to his targets, by leaving some key players at home for Thursday’s opener against PAOK. Eden Hazard, Mateo Kovacic and David Luiz have all been left out of the squad for the match, and we are likely to see a few more first-team players left on the bench for the match.

This will give some of Chelsea’s fringe players a chance to make a mark, both tonight and throughout their campaign.

Here are five men who could make the most of this opportunity:

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#1 Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Loftus-Cheek has appeared just twice from the bench so far this season

This is a massive season for Loftus-Cheek. He had an impressive season on loan with Crystal Palace last year, and then did an excellent job for England at the World Cup, as the Three Lions reached the semi-final stage for the first time since 1990.

The big question coming into this season, though, was whether he could break into the Chelsea team, and get the game time he needed at Stamford Bridge to take the next step.

So far this year, that hasn’t really worked out for the Englishman, and he has had just 33 minutes of action in the league so far. On paper, Loftus-Cheek should be the sort of player who fits Sarri’s system. He is very good with the ball at his feet, and is capable of getting forward and having an impact in the final third. He is also a player who will get himself forward into goal-scoring positions, something the Blues don’t really have in the centre of the park at the moment.

#2 Ross Barkley

Barkley started in both of Chelsea's first two Premier League matches

Another one of Chelsea’s English players who has the potential to be a top player is Barkley. The midfielder’s career has stalled slightly in recent years, and he is yet to reach the heights that were expected of him in his earlier years. He suffered from injuries in his final time at Everton, and was once again injured in his first six months at Chelsea, during which he was limited to just two Premier League appearances.

He has had a slightly better start to this season, and started in each of Chelsea’s opening two games. He has been limited to just substitute appearances ever since though, falling behind Real Madrid loanee Mateo Kovacic in the pecking order. He needs to make the most of the opportunity he will surely be given in the Europa League over the coming weeks, and show the form that he suggested he was capable of in his early years, and maybe earn back a spot in Chelsea’s Premier League team.

#3 Andreas Christensen

Christensen was an important player for Chelsea in the early stages of last season

Christensen made a real impression when he was first bought into the Chelsea side last season, and was superb in the centre of defence. What was most impressive was his composure, not just in defending and winning the ball back, but his qualities when playing the ball out from the back stood out as well. He was a fine passer of the ball, and it was very rarely that you saw him give it away in a dangerous position.

However, Christensen fell out of favour later on in the season, and was replaced by the more experienced Gary Cahill. He has continued to be left on the bench at the start of this season, with David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger the favoured centre back pairing under Maurizio Sarri. Luiz hasn’t had a great start to the season though, and there is a good chance that Christensen will be given the opportunity in the bigger games if he impresses in the Europa League.

#4 Ethan Ampadu

Ampadu has already appeared four times for Wales

Ampadu is probably one of the most talented teenagers on the planet right now. The 18-year-old has only made one Premier League appearance for Chelsea since joining the Blues from Exeter City last summer. But he is already a well-established Welsh international, having appeared four times at senior level for his country, including two impressive performances during the most recent international break.

Ampadu is a man with the calmness and maturity of someone ten years his senior, and he looks like he has the right attitude to play for Chelsea. He is capable of doing a job both in a defensive midfield role and across the back four. He has got to the stage now where he needs to be playing more first team football, and he will hope to have that opportunity in the Europa League. He wasn’t sent out on loan in the summer, suggesting Sarri is prepared to give him a chance.

#5 Callum Hudson-Odoi

Hudson-Odoi impressed for Chelsea in pre-season

Hudson-Odoi was Chelsea’s most impressive performer during pre-season, in the absence of many of the Blues’ World Cup stars, who were given an extended break. The 17-year-old displayed all his skills that Eden Hazard has, and although he may still be quite rough around the edges, he looks like he has a real future at Stamford Bridge. Time is most certainly on his side, but he is good enough to be playing first team football.

Before the season got underway, Sarri decided that he wanted to keep Hudson-Odoi at the club, saying that he would be part of the first team. He hasn’t appeared in the side since the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City, but much like Ampadu, if he wasn’t going to be a member of the team, then he would have been loaned out. With Eden Hazard out of Thursday’s match, and unlikely to appear too much over the Europa League campaign, Hudson-Odoi should get the chance that he is waiting for.