Josh McEachran Loan Request Denied - For Now

Last season there was some talk of sending Josh McEachran off on loan to start this year, but obviously that hasn't happened. Maybe that was to do with Michael Essien getting hurt and maybe it's because Andre Villas-Boas believes McEachran is ready now, but either way, little Josh isn't going anywhere. Even though he asked to:

I did ask to go out on loan at the start of the season but Andre said he wants me to stay because he thinks I will get enough games here. I saw in the paper that Fabio Capello wanted me to go on loan to get more experience but Andre is my manager and if he wanted me to go on loan, that's what I'd do. It's not going to happen before the transfer window closes next week, but maybe it could happen in the new year.

-Josh McEachran. Source: Sun.

Good on Josh for wanting more playing time, and I think him heading out on loan this January makes some sense. We haven't seen any of our new #20 so far this season, which is a shame, but hopefully Andre Villas-Boas remains true to his word and does give him the playing time he needs to develop. It's also good to hear that Fabio Capello sees McEachran as part of his plans for a future England team (although I dare say that by the time Josh is ready to start for England Capello will be long-since gone).

The whole interview is actually pretty excellent, despite it being in the Sun, and I'd suggest that all Chelsea/Josh McEachran fans give it a read. McEachran makes it clear that he's planning on staying at Chelsea to fight for a place, because it's his boyhood club (awwww) and he loves it here.

That was their decision to play at a high level somewhere else, but I want to play for Chelsea so I will keep going here.I have supported this club since I was a little boy and I do believe I have what is needed to succeed here. I've been patient all this time and I need to carry on that way.

That said, he clearly recognises that he needs to be playing in order to improve his game. That's going to be difficult, especially with more midfielders slated for addition before the transfer window closes on Wednesday. Right now, I'd have to imagine that McEachran will be limited to Carling Cup action and the occasional league cameo, which means that unless he makes huge strides a loan move this January, when Essien returns to the side, would probably be for the best.

McEachran has made it sound like Chelsea would be willing to send him out somewhere for the second half of the year, so hopefully he can go somewhere that would get him valuable playing time in the top flight, where young England internationals have thrived on loan spells. Now where *cough Bolton cough cough* might that be?