Away from the spotlight of Stamford Bridge, Saturday proved a potentially defining day for another of Chelsea ’s academy graduates.
Jake Clarke-Salter , who signed a contract extension until 2022 in the summer, had initially struggled to disrupt Birmingham’s established centre-back pairing of Harlee Dean and Marc Roberts after joining the club on loan in July. But against Millwall, keeping club captain Dean out of the side, Clarke-Salter scored a decisive late equaliser on his fourth successive start.
The Independent understands Clarke-Salter’s recent form has attracted interest from other Championship clubs ahead of the transfer window, with Chelsea having a clause to recall the defender in January as part of his loan agreement.
After captaining England at the Under-21 European Championships, Chelsea had prioritised first-team minutes when signing off Clarke-Salter’s loan, with Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori’s return leaving no space in Frank Lampard’s first team plans.
However, Clarke-Salter made just two appearances in his first two months at St Andrews and was only given his eventual run in the starting eleven due to Dean’s three-game suspension.
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with BluesShow all 29 1 /29Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Rating every Chelsea loanee and fringe player's chances of making it with Blues Frank Lampard will hand fresh opportunities to young players not previously seen at the club in recent times
EPA
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Nathan 0/10 Currently enjoying an extended spell in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro, yet to agree a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2020
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Danilo Pantic 2/10 Back from a two-year spell with Partizan, and with two more years left on his deal, could extend, like Davide Zappacosta, and go out on loan once more, will need to make a huge impact with his next move though
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Baba Rahman 1/10 Back from a loan with Reims, only has one year remaining on his contract, so may not be sent out on loan again. Also blocked by Emerson and Marcos Alonso, who has a long-term deal with the club
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Michael Hector 0/10 Will be sold for a nominal amount if the opportunity presents itself, has just one year remaining on his deal
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Jamal Blackman 1/10 Recovering from injury, but has two years remaining on his dea. That said, Chelsea value experience with their No 2 in Willy Caballero, so it's difficult to imagine a situation where he does get his chance
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Marco van Ginkel 2/10 Recovering from a long-term injury after undergoing surgery on his knee. Would otherwise emerge as an interesting option for Lampard. Just a year left on his deal, may be extended for the club to retain some value, but at 26 years old he may feel the time is right to move on
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Michy Batshuayi 6/10 Desperate for his chance and as a killer finisher it must surely come this season with Lampard unlikely to send him out now with just Giroud and Abraham as centre-forward options
Action Images via Reuters
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Kenedy 4/10 Impressed in pre-season and could profit while Callum Hudson-Odoi returns from injury and Christian Pulisic adjusts to life in England. Chelsea would surely like to extend his contract beyond next summer but his long-term prospects remain remote
AFP/Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Tiemoue Bakayoko 4/10 Lampard is clearly not a fan, but the squad is not entirely ready to adjust to his tactics. Extra muscle and defensive cover in midfield with Bakayoko could be a useful short-term option, with limited interest in taking him on loan and paying a fee for the privilege - has three years left on his deal
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Charly Musonda 4/10 Has a bit more time on his side with his new deal this summer until 2022. Must recover from injury and impress with his next move, but his self-confidence when speaking to The Independent suggests he has been given encouragement he can reignite his Chelsea career
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Richard Nartey 0/10 With Burton Albion this season, will move on next summer when his deal expires
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Josh Grant 0/10 A versatile defender now at Plymouth. Becomes a free agent next summer
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Nathan Baxter 2/10 The young stopper is out on loan with Ross County and has four years to run on his deal
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Ike Ugbo 1/10 Now at Roda on loan, just a goal on loan with Scunthorpe last season, must step it up in the Netherlands this season
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Luke McCormick 1/10 Unfortunate to be in a position with crowded competition, but will hope to impress at Shrewsbury before reassessing his future
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Jacob Maddox 2/10 A tidy midfielder on loan at Tranmere this year. Will need to extend his deal beyond 2021 for his prospects long-term with the Blues to improve
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Dujon Sterling 4/10 Big boots to fill in Reece James at Wigan on loan, but he is highly thought of and could emerge as competition for James in the medium-term if Azpilicueta eventually moves on and James is trusted as first choice
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Izzy Brown 1/10 Injuries have been cruel to Brown, who was once considered a sure-fire England international by Mourinho. Will have to do something special at Luton to convince the Blues he is worth persisting with though
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Victor Moses 2/10 Could feasibly contribute if really needed, but will return next summer after his loan with Fenerbahce with a year left on his contract and likely be moved on
Getty Images for AUDI
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Mario Pasalic 0/10 Enjoying his time with Atalanta, who have the option to buy him. Will leave when they activate it
EPA
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Conor Gallagher 5/10 A bright start to life in the Championship with Charlton, scoring twice. Still has plenty of time on his side too
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Danny Drinkwater 2/10 Not given much of a look-in by Lampard and after soaking up a year's wages has accepted a move to Burnley. Will surely not return for long before leaving permanently next summer
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Davide Zappacosta 2/10 Never quite good enough for Chelsea, though Cesar Azpilicueta is showing some signs of concern. But Reece James looks primed to play after almost recovering from injury. A loan to Roma until January, though his deal now runs until 2022. Perhaps James' situation will be reviewed mid-season and the Italian could be recalled as cover if necessary
REUTERS
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Matt Miazga 0.5/10 A baffling signing, but only has the slimmest of chances of still making it due to three more years on his deal. Will hope to kick on with Reading this season
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Jake Clarke-Salter 4/10 Has played through the age groups with England up to the Under-21s and signed a contract extension in the summer, now with Birmingham and will hope to take a step in the way Fikayo Tomori did last season with Derby
Getty Images
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Trevoh Chalobah 3/10 Three years remaining on his Chelsea deal and now with Huddersfield after his time with Ipswich last season. Has already scored for Town, but remains a tough ask to convince Lampard he is worth consideration in the future
PA
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Lewis Baker 0.5/10 Now with Fortuna Dusseldorf, who have an option to buy, will move on regardless
EPA
Chelsea loan players 19/20 and chances of making it with Blues Ethan Ampadu 9/10 A classy, versatile player already. Smart, too, and will benefit loads from his time at Leipzig, plus more caps with Wales. Almost certain to 'make it' with the Blues
Reuters
Roberts suffered an injury which saw him carried off on a stretcher during the 1-1 draw with Millwall, but with several fellow Championship clubs monitoring the left-sided centre-back, a change is being considered to guarantee game time for the remainder of the season.
A highly touted youth prospect at Chelsea, who made his first-team debut in April 2016, Clarke-Salter has endured mixed spells on loan, suffering an arm fracture that sidelined him for four months at Bristol City, before joining Sunderland and then impressing in the Eredivisie last season with Vitesse.
Join our new commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies