Portsmouth boss’ big belief Chelsea teen sensation can handle Championship intensity - and why that’s the case
The Championship brings physical demands, but Chelsea’s rising star has been backed to handle its challenges.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen can handle the gruelling demands the Championship presents.
That’s the belief of Pompey boss John Mousinho, as the Chelsea starlet hits the ground running at Fratton Park.
Mousinho on Kavuma-McQueen: ‘I’m really confident Ryan will handle it’
But the Blues head coach believes caution has to be exercised around the 17-year-old hope, as he finds himself the focus of excitement over his potential.
Kavuma-McQueen delivered a standout showing in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Lincoln City, following an enterprising second-half debut on the opening day against QPR. That’s seen hopes grow over what the Londoner can achieve this term.
Mousinho feels such optimism is justified, though expectations do need to be kept in check for the England age-group talent.
He said: ‘It’s an age-old issue with any 17-year-old who breaks into the first team.
‘But inevitably young players will come in and have ups and downs.
‘Some afternoons they are brilliant and some not so much, wingers are the same.
‘It doesn’t look it when he’s playing, but it’s important to remember he’s 17.
‘When you’re a coach and observe him you forget that straightaway, he’s a very athletic young man.
‘He’s had really good exposure this pre-season with Chelsea, but previously he’s not had huge exposure in a PL2 season because he’s largely played with the 18s.
‘He started to play PL2 last year, but with a PL2 fixture list it’s one game per week, a month break for Christmas and a different intensity for training.
‘Ryan is suited to play at this level, but we have to manage all that really carefully in our team and Chelsea’s team as well.’
While Mousinho knows the Championship schedule will present a challenge to Kavuma-McQueen, the Pompey boss highlighted a cause for optimism he can tackle those demands head on.
He added: ‘The big thing for us with Ryan is we got him relatively early and some of the young lads are available off the back of Premier League trips to the States, Far East or Australia.
‘All of a sudden the manager keeps them for a bit longer or the second round of the League Cup.
‘You end up thinking it’s going to be a deadline day decision, but by that point they may not have played for a month.‘So you get them in and it takes a while.
‘The positive for us with Ryan is we think he’s already in a good spot physically - and he will be in a good spot by the time we get to the back end of 2026 and things become Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, the pitch is heavier and we have the travel.
‘But we think we have a good opportunity now to bed him in.’