Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic convinced Tomas Kalas is in the right place to prove his worth to Chelsea

In action: Fulham boss Jokanovic has been impressed by his loan recruit
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
James Benge2 September 2016

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic believes he can provide the perfect opportunity for on-loan defender Tomas Kalas to prove himself to Chelsea, because he is just around the corner from Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old has been on Chelsea’s books since 2010, when he signed from Czech side Sigma Olomouc for around £5million, but has made just four appearances for the Blues and spent most of his career on loan.

After spending last season on loan at Middlesbrough Kalas returned to the Championship with Fulham, where he has made several impressive appearances as Jokanovic’s side have reached second in the league.

With the defender’s parent club right around the corner, Jokanovic is convinced that Kalas, one of 38 Chelsea players currently out on loan, could not have made a better choice.

The Chelsea players out on loan

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“First of all Tomas has been very good at the beginning of the season,” Jokanovic said.

“He has done an important job for us and I believe this is a good place for him to get the benefits of playing more games as it is not his first loan.

“Last season he didn’t play many games at Middlesbrough and generally we are so close to Stamford Bridge here, so they can check easily if Tomas is a player can help at Chelsea in the future or not.”

Kalas was rated highly by Jose Mourinho during the Portuguese manager’s second spell at the club and was even given his Premier League debut in a crucial victory over Liverpool in April 2014.

However he has not played for the Blues since the end of that season and will need to be particularly impressive if he is to force his way into Antonio Conte’s thinking.

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