ON transfer deadline day, Chelsea managed to squeeze in a deal for EFL’s hottest talent, Mason Burstow.
The Charlton rookie, 18, has had a meteoric rise after coming through the youth ranks at non-league Welling United and Maidstone United.
He joined the Addicks in 2000, and sensationally introduced himself by scoring for the club with his FIRST TOUCH in professional football in a Papa Johns Trophy clash against Crawley.
Since then, he has continued to provide a threat in attack – finding the net six times in his first 16 games for the South London side.
It’s that kind of form that encouraged Chelsea to pounce on the youngster – paying around £2million to secure his services, beating Premier League rivals Brentford to the punch, before loaning him back to the League One team.
They’ve had their eye on him
Burstow was spotted early doors by Chelsea’s scouts when he played for Maidstone at 16.
After starring in a game, ironically against Charlton, he was invited to Cobham to train.
Although they passed on the opportunity to sign him, Burstow stayed on the club’s radar.
In 2020, the Plumstead-born poacher joined local club Charlton on a two-year scholarship deal.
He would soon get Charlton development lead coach Anthony Hayes purring about his ability.
Ambitious and full of potential
Back in December, Hayes spoke of Burstow’s ambition and his game.
“He’s someone who we consider a high-potential player,” Hayes told the South London Press.
“I wouldn’t want to put any pressure on him because I know he sets his own targets.
“I know there is a lot of goal-setting in terms of creating and scoring goals, as well as making first-team appearances.
“What I do think he is, is a centre-forward who can do everything. He can run away from the ball and he can drop in and link play.”
While, News Shopper journalist Henry Tomlinson compared Burstow to ex-West Ham and Tottenham hotshot Jermain Defoe.
“He’s got that rare talent of just wanting to prove himself, he doesn’t stop running, he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, he’s just wanting to do the best he can each time he goes out,” Tomlinson told the Chelsea Chronicle.
“I’ve seen him live a couple of times now and he sort of reminds me a little bit of a young Defoe.
“His movement between the lines, he’s got a bit of that poacher finishing ability and he’s got a bit more height. His goal against Fleetwood was with his head.
“So, maybe, he could have potential more skill set or be a bit more rounded than Defoe was, which would be a fantastic career if he was able to emulate Defoe because obviously, he’s one of the best Premier League goal scorers of all time.”
Goals galore
Like Defoe, Burstow has the same ruthlessness in front of goal which is translated well to the Charlton first team.
Since ex-manager Nigel Adkins handed him his debut back in August – in the 6-1 demolition of Crawley – Mason is yet to look back.
Back in November, he found the net in the FA Cup in a 4-0 win over Havant & Waterlooville.
Last month, he scored a consolation in a 2-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in the league followed.
Then he followed that up with a strike in a 2-0 win against Fleetwood.
Sensibly, Chelsea have decided to let Burstow play out the remainder of this season with the Addicks as he continues his development.
Then comes the hard work where he will transition into Neil Bath’s Blues academy.
You wouldn’t put it past Burstow, the eager overachiever, to flourish there too.
