As Chelsea Under-21s gear up for our Premier League Cup opener against Brentford this Sunday at Kingsmeadow, with kick-off at midday, one player is particularly eager to secure a victory following the international break.

Kaiden Wilson, who has been with Chelsea since Under-15s level, is eager to get back on the pitch following the September international break.

Find out how to watch Chelsea Under-21s vs Brentford live for free

Although he didn’t participate in international matches, Wilson used the time to aid his progress at Cobham, reviewing his recent performances and putting in extra training sessions, ahead of returning to action against Brentford on Sunday.

'I’m feeling good and confident going into our next match,' began the 18-year-old. 'We’ve worked really hard during the international break, focusing on detailed training sessions, so I feel well-prepared.

'The break was a great opportunity to get one-on-one attention and really refine my game. It’s been a productive period and, hopefully, we’ll see the results on Sunday.

'We faced Brentford in pre-season and had a great result, which boosts our confidence for the upcoming match. However, we need to keep working hard.

'I’m aiming for a strong individual performance on Sunday and I hope the team can achieve our first clean sheet of the season.'

Wilson also praised Under-21s head coach Filipe Coelho and is enjoying the freedom he has to express his playing style under the Portuguese's guidance.

'I’m a confident, vocal defender who steps into midfield, makes passes and plays aggressively. Filipe gives me the freedom to do that.

'He’s a great coach who’s very detailed in his analysis. He knows exactly what he wants from us and gives us clear direction on how we can improve. Right now, everything is working well.'

After a strong 3-1 victory against Middlesbrough in the Premier League 2 last time out, the defender believes the Blues are gaining confidence heading into our next fixture, and aims to build on that winning momentum to start a positive streak going.

'We didn’t have the best start to the season, but we got our first win against Middlesbrough, which was great.

'Against Middlesbrough, we worked well as a group and all our prep beforehand came together on the day, which enabled us to get the win.

'We’ve bonded well as a team and are a close group, and I think that’s another reason we were successful. Getting the win was a major boost for the team.

'We were playing well beforehand but not getting the results we felt we deserved. Now that we have the three points, it’s given us the confidence to keep working hard and get the results we’ve been aiming for.'

Reflecting on his past experiences, such as the Under-18 Premier League national final, the defender sees them as key motivators for his future career.

'Playing at Stamford Bridge in the Under-18 Premier League national final was surreal. It’s an experience I’ll never forget and it was a huge moment for me and my family.

'The pitch and stadium were much bigger than I’m used to and I think that affected my performance because I wanted to impress. It was a good test of mentality, making you overthink things, but it’s also driven me to push harder and keep levelling up.'

Wilson believes that experiences like playing at Stamford Bridge and upcoming games against the experience of senior teams such as Bromley in the EFL Trophy are crucial for his development.

He particularly enjoys being involved in cup competitions, finding them essential for his growth, both on and off the pitch.

'Facing older, more experienced players prepares me for the next stage of my career. Playing against teams like Bromley helps me understand what’s ahead and I’m using that to fuel my ambition.

'I really enjoy these cup games because they bring another level of intensity and pressure. You have to be on top form mentally and physically.

'These competitions also give you a taste of the next level, which is where I want to be as I progress in my career.'

Support our Blues

Tickets for the Premier League Cup opener at Kingsmeadow are still available, with adult tickets priced at £7 and junior/senior tickets at £5.

If you can't attend the match in person, you can watch the match for free via the live stream in the Chelsea Under-21s vs Brentford Match Centre on the official Chelsea website and app.