Chelsea promote 12 youngsters to first-team training after Covid crisis

Chelsea have promoted 12 youngsters to their first-team as they look to battle the Covid crisis that has gripped the club in recent days.

As well as injuries, several players have been stricken by the virus as it rampages through the Premier League.

The Blues face Brentford on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup with their squad deeply affected but Thomas Tuchel has conjured up a solution.

The German coach has invited 12 players to first-team training with the idea of utilising them against the Bees with Chelsea in need of reinforcements.

According to

, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Alfie Gilchrist, Xavier Simons, Harvey Vale, Bryan Fiabema, Jayden Wareham and Joe Haigh, all aged 18, were all training this week.

Three 19-year-olds were also included, Josh Brooking, Xavier Mbuyamba and Dion Rakine while Lewis Hall, 17, joined in too.

Lewis Baker, who has been with the club since 2005 and made just one appearance for the Blues, was part of the training session.

However, the 26-year-old has had no luck and has since tested positive for Covid, while Tuchel admitted his usage of N'Golo Kante against Wolves was "irresponsible".

He said: "This week makes it sound like we have had a whole week to prepare. They trained with us today and yesterday. Maybe that gives us a better explanation of the situation.

"They came over for two training sessions because it was necessary. When they came, we detected Lewis Baker tested positive for Covid so that's another player out. It was a risk to bring players in from the academy to have it.

"How is the best way for me to put it? Perhaps it is best as an example.

"What we did with N'Golo Kante, playing 90 minutes, was close to being irresponsible against Wolverhampton. Will he be involved in the squad against Brentford? No, simply no."

Several Premier League fixtures had already been postponed as a result of clubs insisting they did not have enough players to field a team.

The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Burnley have all had their fixtures moved elsewhere.

However, Chelsea were not granted that luxury against Wolves on Sunday when they reported that they had returned seven positive Covid tests.

Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi were among them but the Premier League rejected their request to have the match elsewhere.

Chelsea went on to draw the match 0-0 as their poor form continues this month - registering just one win in five games after relinquishing top spot in the table.