Jamaican impresses at Chelsea

England-born Jamaican Omari Hutchinson could contribute to his new English Premier League (EPL) club when the season resumes after the World Cup.

Hutchinson featured in Chelsea's 1-0 friendly defeat to Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and received praises on his play from manager Graham Potter, who was impressed with the 19-year-old as he acclimatised with the team in their first game since the World Cup break.

"He was really good, really good. (He was) dangerous, asked questions all the time. I think he hit the bar in the first half, but throughout the game he showed his quality," Potter said.

According to reports from the Athletic, Hutchinson is highly rated by Chelsea coaches, and he revealed in an interview on Chelsea's website that he is being further integrated into the first-team squad. Since moving from Arsenal in the summer, he stated that he is comfortable with the first team, being given a licence to express himself on the field.

"They give me the freedom on the pitch. They tell me to express myself so that's all I can ask for really. Every day I come into Chelsea I just want to work hard, whether that's with the under-21 or the first team," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson, with his international future yet to be decided, featured for Jamaica in the Reggae Boyz friendly against Catalonia in May, under then interim coach Paul Hall in a game that was outside the FIFA window.

It was a game that Hall used to evaluate new talent before he left the programme and was replaced by Heimir Hallgrimsson.

An EPL debut for Hutchinson could come as early as December 27 when Chelsea face 14th-place Bournemouth.

Hutchinson needs to make a competitive appearance for Jamaica to be tied to the national team as the English FA is reportedly keeping track of him.