In late January, Chelsea supporters had gotten their wish. Lewis Hall was starting a Premier League match for the Blues in the centre of midfield. After a run of games playing in the left-back role, the 18-year-old was finally used in his favoured position.
Hall, however, lasted just 55 minutes in what turned out to be a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Anfield against Liverpool. The teenager knew he had missed his opportunity to shine in the middle of the pitch.
"It definitely feels like a season of progress, especially between the start of the season and January," Hall told the club's in-house media back in May. "I feel I took a big step. Everything was going well and I put in performances I was really pleased with.
"Obviously, I was working hard in training and with the Under-23s I was doing well; I was managing to score goals, get assists. Then when you get opportunities to train with the first-team and you continue to do well, it is a nice feeling.
"I was waiting to get my opportunity and when I got it, I took it. Then it is about keeping that momentum. But against Liverpool, it probably wasn't one of my best games."
That match at Anfield proved to be Hall's last involvement with the first-team until May, where he was handed 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Ben Chilwell suffered an injury in the game before and Marc Cucurella was also absent, meaning Hall got a run in the side for the final four matches of the season.
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In those four games, Hall really impressed at left-back. The teenage talent showcased his ability to get forward with his direct running and his eye for a cross. Chelsea looked really dangerous on his side of the pitch as the midfielder once again showed his versatility.
But in the long run, Hall will want to establish himself as a central midfielder. Often with midfielders who have progressed from the academy to the senior side, they are used as full-backs. See Trent Alexander-Arnold, for example, who has only recently started to play in midfield for Liverpool after multiple seasons of being a right-back.
When is the right time to use Hall in midfield? Surely there's no better time than in Mauricio Pochettino's first season with the club.
Hall has always been a box-to-box midfielder – someone who likes to score and assist on a regular basis. With Chelsea offloading the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante this summer – and they are open to offers for Conor Gallagher – Pochettino could do with a new energetic midfielder.
Of course Moises Caicedo is the club's top target in midfield. And football.london understands Chelsea are preparing a bid for the Ecuador international, with the Blues and Brighton in talks over the past week about a deal for Caicedo.
But Chelsea want two central midfielders this summer, especially considering the amount that have left already. Hall, though, could save Chelsea millions of pounds in the transfer market should the teenager be given an opportunity in midfield.
Hall has all of the attributes to be a top-class central midfielder. He is a gifted athlete, a powerful runner and his technical ability is as good as anyone in the squad. He's shown that from left-back.
It's either allowing him a chance in midfield next season or there could be a world where he goes out on loan. If Pochettino sees him as an option at left-back rather than midfield, then it looks unlikely Hall will get too much first-team football with Chilwell and Cucurella ahead of him in that position.
Despite Cucurella having a poor debut campaign with Chelsea, the Spaniard wants to prove himself at Stamford Bridge under Pochettino, who is set to hand the left-back another chance. Meanwhile, if Chilwell can keep himself fit and continue some of the form he showed in the second half of last season, then he will be the first-choice on the left-hand side of defence.
It's a big summer for Hall. The teenager will need to speak to Pochettino in the coming weeks about his role at the club next season. One thing is for sure, though: Chelsea have a tremendous talent at their disposal.
