Reserve Report: Fabio Borini strikes again

By: Jamie | February 17th, 2011

Our young Italian striker returned after over two months out with a shoulder injury and celebrated being back on the pitch with a hat-trick in our reserves’ 4-3 win over West Ham this week.

Borini scored his hat-trick, including a penalty, in 62 minutes before being replaced by Adam Phillip. Milan Lalkovic, our two-goal hero in the Youth Cup against Arsenal, scored the winner late in the match. After chilling on the bench during our disappointing draw with Fulham, Young Josh was in action as well and was very productive – assisting two goals.

Borini has been a prolific goal-scorer for the reserves this season – memorably, he scored five in a comeback win against West Brom a few months ago, as well as a brace in a friendly against Bayern Munich.

The striker has been rumored to be on his way to Parma, but it seems that his latest injury as well as a failure to agree on a fee put any transfer move on hold until the end of the season. Unless we can somehow agree on an extension, he’ll leave on a free at the end of the season. The argument over his contract seems to be more about the length of time rather than the money.

Based on his reserve appearances and the fact that he was included in the five youngsters that Ancelotti had planned to have a bigger part of the first team this season, I had been wanting to see him get more first-team chances. But now, especially with the arrival of Torres and seeing Sturridge drop down in the pecking order, it would be tough for Borini to get into the squad anyway. He may not be big and tough, but he knows how to finish and score goals – which is something our other strikers don’t seem to be doing too much of these days. Maybe that’s what makes him seem so exciting.

A shame, because the boy looks like he could potentially be a star. It seems like we’ll never know if he could’ve been a star for the Blues, though. His best chance for first-team football will be at another club, but I for one will be sad to see him go.

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Category: Chelsea Reserves, Chelsea Team News, Player News

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Keith

Should have played all the kids in the Carling Cup. Then we'd know who could play and who to cut. You can't tell me between our youth team and our bench players like Kalou, Sturridge, etc. that we'd stay competitive against anyone except the elite of the PL.
Jack

The thing is I'm never been impressed with any of his individual attributes. Not particularly quick, not great technically - but, damn, he can score. Has an Inzaghi look to him, too, which is so very intriguing. I say give him a run in the side until the end of the season. What do we have to lose? Honestly?
droggles

4th place?
Jack

We're losing that already.
Devin

I agree that he's got a Pipo Inzaghi like style that's intriguing, but he, like most of our youth, is far down the pecking order at this point. If Danny can't get a run out considering his form over the past six months, how the heck is Fab going to find pitch time? I think we should all consider the distinct possibility that he'll be in a new kit come August.
arn00b

So he's basically the Anti-Kalou. Isn't that what we need? A no-nonsense finisher?