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After a year and a half spent at second tier Blackburn Rovers, 21-year-old Todd Kane started this season back among the Chelsea ranks, making regular starts for the under-21 side. Given that he had already proven himself a useful player in the Championship, the U21 level wasn't exactly the challenge that his career needed. And so, in November he headed back out on the road, joining up with League One leaders Bristol City on a two-month loan. That loan is set to expire on January 18, but the young right back who's lately been also deployed as a central midfielder (as he once used to be at the younger age-levels of the Chelsea Academy) hopes to stay longer.
"I owe Blackburn so much for giving me the opportunity to play regular games last season. I was a different person when I came back. It's the same for me now that I'm at Bristol City. I want to be involved, play as many games as possible and help the club to do well. I didn't mind dropping down another level, so long as I was somewhere where I was playing and enjoying my football."
"I'd love to stay if the opportunity arose, but it's out of my hands. All I can do is keep playing well and doing my best every time I go out onto the pitch. I'm not thinking about the long-term future right now. We have an FA Cup tie at Doncaster and that is all that matters at this moment in time."
Kane ended up playing 83 minutes in said FA Cup tie, as Bristol City and Doncaster battled to a 1-1 draw. And while he may claim to not be thinking of his long-term future, he still hopes and dreams of a Chelsea career.
"It's all about playing and getting games under my belt at the moment. Chelsea is in my heart and playing in the first-team there is a dream I've had since I was a little kid. But I don't know if that dream will ever come true and there may come a time when I have to make a career for myself somewhere else. I have to put bread on the table after all and football is my living."
Kane's been one of my favorite prospects, and I'd love for him to live that dream as well. Alas, the football reality is a harsh reality, where despite all the successes Todd's had at Chelsea, the former youth and reserves captain may have to end up following in the footsteps of somebody like Jack Cork and make a name for himself elsewhere. Still, I suppose you never know. Kane's Chelsea contract runs through next season; anything can happen. We just have to look at his namesake over at Tottenham for an example of someone who can surprise to great effect.