Watford vs Chelsea: Nathaniel Chalobah desperate to recover and force his way into World Cup squad

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Watford vs Chelsea: Nathaniel Chalobah desperate to recover and force his way into World Cup squad

CHELSEA fans will notice one glaring omission from their opponents’ line-up at Watford tomorrow.

Nathaniel Chalobah left the Blues for the Hornets in a £6million switch last summer.

Nathaniel Chalobah is desperate to get in the England squadRex Features

But he has not played since September after fracturing a kneecap.

The injury was made all the more painful by the fact Chalobah had just received his first senior England call, after winning a record 97 caps for the Three Lions’ development teams.

But the 23-year-old still hopes to be at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Chalobah, who steadfastly refuses to give an idea on when he could return to action, said: “The rehab is going well and I am hoping I will get back playing in enough time to impress the England manager and get a place in the squad.

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Nathaniel Chalobah is yet to make his international debutNews Group Newspapers Ltd Watford ace Chalobah was hitting form before his injuryRex Features

“It will not be easy, but I still have hopes of being on the plane.”

Chelsea fan Chalobah had been at the Blues since he was ten.

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He said: “It was a difficult situation for me. I support the club, I was a ball boy at the games and I’ve been a big Chelsea fan. Last year was a dream come true. After so many loans I was finally back in the squad.

“But I wanted to play more games and I didn’t feel the manager was going to include me in the team. For me, the most important thing was playing. An opportunity came from Watford and I decided to take it.”

Nathaniel Chalobah has plenty of experience at youth levelGetty - Contributor Midfield ace Chalobah will have to impress new boss Javi GraciaRex Features

Chalobah won the Uefa Euro Under-17 Championship in 2010 and is an ambassador for this year’s tournament, which England host for the first time in May.

Before that, he needs to impress another new Watford boss after Marco Silva — the man who signed him — was replaced by Javi Gracia.

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Chalobah added: “You are employed by the club and they are the most important thing. Bigger than all of us.

“It is just a case of proving myself again to the new manager.”

See the stars of tomorrow in the Uefa European Under-17 Championship, May 4-20, 2018. Visit www.TheFA.com/U17Euro for tickets and further information.

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