Chelsea defender Dujon Sterling is enjoying his football this season on-loan with Blackpool.
Manager Thomas Tuchel is understood to be an admirer of Sterling and used him throughout Chelsea’s pre-season campaign, although in the unfamiliar role of right centre-back. Yet still he made a positive impression.
“It was one of the best pre-seasons I’ve had,” Sterling told Football.London. “I felt really good and I had the confidence back to play my game and try to impress. I think I did, that was the feedback I got too. And it was great to get a positive reaction from the supporters, especially after the Arsenal game. I had good words from Tuchel – he believed in me felt I should get out and get game time.”
And that is where Championship club Blackpool, managed by former Liverpool youth coach Neil Critchley, came in.
“He gave me a call and said he believed I could do really well and that he could help me get back on track,” says Sterling. “It’s been a good loan and definitely lived up to my expectations.”
Sterling has made 24 appearances in all competitions for the Tangerines this term. More impressively, though, is he has completed 90 minutes in the last 14 games in the Championship in a variety of positions, from right-back to right wing-back, right centre-back to left-back.
“It gives managers confidence that they can play me in any position and I can get the job done for the team,” Sterling says. “It also gives my teammates confidence that no matter where I am on the pitch, they can give me the ball and trust me.”
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