English-born Nigerian starlet Tyrique George has revealed the Chelsea players who have been guiding him as he transitions to first team football. The talented winger was named in Chelsea’s traveling squad for their USA tour and made his unofficial debut for the first team on Thursday, playing 45 minutes in a pre-season match against Wrexham at Levi’s Stadium.

Although Christopher Nkunku made headlines for scoring Chelsea’s first goal in the 35th minute, it was George’s long-range effort that led to the goal. His shot was blocked, allowing Marc Guiu to set up Nkunku for the finish.

George, who came close to making his debut last season by being named in matchday squads against Everton, Aston Villa, and Tottenham, spoke to Chelsea’s official website after the Wrexham match. He highlighted the senior players who have been helping him and boosting his confidence.

“I think my confidence grew as I got more into the game, and I got more used to the opposition full-back and what the other players on my team were going to do,” George said. “Having Levi [Colwill] down my side really helped because he was telling me when to stay, when to go outside, and when to come inside a bit more. And Christo [Nkunku] too when it came to needing to run in behind.

“The likes of Raheem [Sterling], Noni [Madueke], and Carney [Chukwuemeka] have also been giving me advice during the tour, and it all helps with my confidence and being able to just play my own game. When you are quite new to the group, having someone like Raheem give you advice when he has played at the highest level for so many years really helps. Having the chance to play alongside all these top players has been really good. You are learning new things every day from really experienced players.”

The 18-year-old faces a significant challenge to secure a place in the first team for the new season due to intense competition. However, he aims to impress new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and show that he is ready for first team football. George will have another opportunity to showcase his skills when Chelsea faces Celtic at the Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow.