Former West Ham star Carlton Cole has urged Tammy Abraham to make the most of the opportunities that he will be given for Chelsea this season. The youngster is set to be given a lot of opportunities during the season ahead and Frank Lampard opted to start him during the 4-0 demolition which the club experienced at the hands of Manchester United to start the 2019/20 Premier League season.
“I wish I was coming through at Chelsea with a transfer ban,” Cole told Goal. “This is an excellent chance for Tammy Abraham.
“When I was out there, I was fighting for my life. Hopefully, these boys from the youth team can grasp this chance to make a good account of themselves.
“They have to have the desire to realise what a big chance this is. I would have loved this chance when I was back there. Can you imagine if I had an opportunity like this? I never had that. You need a run of games to show what you can do.
“You will see that these boys will definitely get their chances, the next question is, will they take it? For Tammy, he knows this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I hope he will take his chance. He is a good player. He still has a lot to learn but where’s the best place to learn it?
Abraham can count himself lucky to actually be given an opportunity to shine by the Blues first-team. Many youngsters such as even Cole himself did not get sufficient opportunity to establish themselves at the club. Cole started his professional career with the Blues in 2001 and went on to spend five years with the club before departing in 2006 to join West Ham. During his five years at Stamford Bridge, he managed just 25 Premier League appearances, scoring four goals.
Cole would go on to make 293 appearances for West Ham and scored 68 goals. He also managed several appearances for England.
Abraham is ready for the Premier League
Abraham may not have really performed well during his prior Premier League loan stint with Swansea City during the 2017/18 season. It is important however to realize that he was playing at the time for a club which lacked fluidity and confidence and subsequently went on to be relegated. The 21-year-old did impressively last season while he was on loan with Aston Villa in the Championship as he went on to score 25 goals in the second tier from 37 appearances. Abraham’s goals played a key role in ensuring that Dean Smith’s side made a return to the top-flight scene following a three year absence.
It is now or never for Abraham. If he fails to get going this season, the club will probably deem him surplus to requirements as they did to numerous young players over the years.
