Hayes wary of expecting too much of Hamano ahead of Chelsea debut

Maika Hamano could make her Chelsea debut in the Women's Super League trip to Bristol City but manager Emma Hayes is wary of expecting too much, too soon from the Japan forward.

Hamano was loaned to Swedish side Hammarby IF as soon as she joined the club in January and her career was then put on hold when she underwent shoulder surgery in September.

Now restored to full fitness, the 19-year-old has been scoring spectacular goals on the training ground to nudge her towards her first involvement with Chelsea on Sunday.

Having revealed that Melanie Leupolz and Ashley Lawrence were back in contention, Hayes said: "Maybe even Maika will be in the squad.

"You've got to see the goal she scored the other day. She scored a goal in the academy game the other day. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

"She's a young talent and sometimes we expect our young talent to come in and think that they're going to do this and that. 

"But there's a physicality to senior football and it's going to take her a couple of years to develop that. No question.

"But she's got individual attributes that are game-changing. Maika Hamano is going to be a top, top player. Definitely." 

WSL leaders Chelsea enter their final league game of 2023 ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, while Bristol City are second from bottom. 

Hayes added: "Bristol are going to play five at the back but if we can find a blue shirt, put the ball into the right areas in the right moments, then I'm sure we'll be fine."