Three Chelsea youngsters Enzo Maresca missed the chance to showcase against Morecambe

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Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign began in emphatic fashion as Enzo Maresca’s side cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory over League Two side Morecambe.

Despite fielding a rotated team, which included the likes of Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga, and a standout performance from Tyrique George, questions have been raised about Maresca’s squad selection for the game.

The match presented an ideal opportunity for Chelsea’s fringe players to gain valuable minutes, yet three youngsters—Deivid Washington, Harrison Murray-Campbell, and Kiano Dyer—were notably overlooked.

Deivid Washington

One of the most glaring omissions was Brazilian forward Deivid Washington. The 20-year-old, who has been a regular in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy, has yet to make his senior debut for the Blues. With Maresca opting to start Marc Guiu upfront, many expected Washington to at least feature against Morecambe.

Washington has trained with the first team this season, and facing lower-league opposition in the FA Cup seemed like the perfect opportunity to integrate him into senior football. However, Maresca’s decision suggests Washington may need to wait longer to get his big break.

Harrison Murray-Campbell

In defence, Maresca partnered Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi, with Adarabioyo stealing the headlines by scoring twice. Yet, the match could have served as a platform for 18-year-old Harrison Murray-Campbell to gain more first-team experience.

Murray-Campbell recently made his Chelsea debut as a second-half substitute in the Europa Conference League. However, with the Morecambe game already secure early on, it seemed like an ideal moment to give the young centre-back additional minutes.

Kiano Dyer

Another missed opportunity came in midfield, where Kiano Dyer, a rising star in Chelsea’s academy, was left on the sidelines. The 18-year-old has trained regularly with the first team and has impressed at youth level, with fans calling him “ridiculously good” after his standout performance against Anderlecht U21s in October.

Dyer is yet to make his first-team debut, and with rival clubs reportedly monitoring his progress, handing him playing time against Morecambe could have been a strategic move to solidify his future at Chelsea.