Blues defender Pat Webber is making his second start for Vanarama National League Aldershot Town in this evening’s friendly against Chelsea’s U23s at the Recreation Ground.
Webber, 18, played the full 90 minutes during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough, operating as a centre-half in the first half and at left-back, where he usually featured for Town’s U18s and U23s last season, in the second.
Aldershot boss Gary Waddock, who played alongside Town manager Mick McCarthy at Millwall and for the Republic of Ireland, said after that game: "I spoke to Mick McCarthy and he’s been very kind and let us have a look at Patrick, so we’ll have a look at him.
"He can play centre-half and left-back. He’s a young lad making his way in the game. We’ll have a look at him [over the] next week and then I’ll report back to Mick and ask Mick his thoughts.”
Last season former Blues midfielder Kundai Benyu enjoyed a highly successful spell on loan with the Shots as they reached the play-offs.
Webber was among the youngsters involved in Town’s pre-season training camp at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare and played the first half of the 5-0 victory over Drogheda United.
The son of Damian Webber, who played in defence for McCarthy's Millwall side in the mid-nineties, he joined the Blues' academy from Ryman League Premier Division side Worthing, his hometown club, after a trial at the end of 2014/15.
4-2-3-1 formation for The Shots:
Cole
Alexander, Lyons-Foster, Reynolds, Webber
Gallagher, Oyeleke
Taylor, Rowe, Mensah
McClure— Aldershot Town FC (@OfficialShots) July 19, 2017
Webber junior featured regularly in the U23s last season and was on the bench for the first team on three occasions but without making it on to the field.
Meanwhile, ex-Blues striker Daryl Murphy, 34, is reportedly close to joining Nottingham Forest from Newcastle for £2 million, signing a two-year deal.
Former Town loanee Dominic Samuel has completed his move from Reading to Blackburn for a fee reported to be £500,000.
Blues boss McCarthy was understood to be weighing up whether to bring Samuel back to Portman Road earlier in the summer but speaking after the Drogheda friendly said no move for the former England U19 international was ongoing: "At this moment in time, nothing’s happening with that.”
Town, who targeted the loan addition of Wolves frontman Jon Dadi Bodvarsson prior to the Icelander’s £3 million switch to Reading last week, have adding another striker to their squad as their priority, Brett Pitman having moved on to Portsmouth.
We understand another Wolves attacker, Joe Mason, 26, is also among those to have been considered by the Blues this summer, but the Molineux club are believed to want to keep hold of the former Plymouth and Cardiff man, who has featured throughout their friendlies on their pre-season tour of Austria.