With the international break in full swing and top-flight domestic football put on hold, some heart-warming news came through on the grapevine, not that long ago.
Here at Vital Chelsea, you may have noticed that we’ve had the odd moan, or two, about the number of players the club has sent out on loan, especially those who are, we feel, at the stage whereby a decision should have been made as to whether they have a long-term future at the club or whether their services should be dispensed with.
But, whilst we may have the odd gripe, or two, we find it particularly pleasing that one of our youngsters, the highly-rated midfielder Mason Mount, is making great strides during the early part of his season-long loan spell at Derby County, under the tutorship of Frank Lampard.
Mason, just 19-years-of-age, has been called into the England U19 squad for the forthcoming games against Holland and Latvia, by the U21 coach, Aidy Boothroyd.
It is the first time that Mason has been acknowledged as a contender for a starting place at this level and the midfielder has been selected ahead of the highly rated Manchester City youngster, Phil Foden, largely because Mason, unlike Foden, has been playing regular first-team football for Derby County.
Here at Vital Chelsea, we’d like to congratulate Mason on his achievement and we hope it is the start of a long career at international level.
Who says the loan system doesn’t work?