According to a report by Football London on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has expressed concerns about young goalkeeper Mike Penders while praising Josh Acheampong’s potential to become an important player for the club.

Cundy shared his views while analysing Chelsea’s performance against Everton, discussing the progress of both youngsters and questioning whether Penders was ready to take over from the injured Emi Martinez.

Martinez recently underwent successful surgery after suffering a broken jaw in a collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The injury is expected to keep the Argentine goalkeeper sidelined until December, giving Penders an opportunity to prove himself as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper under manager Xabi Alonso.

Penders featured in Chelsea’s match against Everton on Saturday and reportedly surpassed Lenny Pidgeley’s record to become the youngest goalkeeper to appear in the Premier League, breaking the previous record by two weeks.

Despite the achievement, Cundy believes the young goalkeeper still needs significant improvement before he can become a dependable option for Chelsea. Speaking on the Spurs Chat podcast, he explained that Penders was still developing and would benefit from playing several consecutive matches to gain valuable experience, even if he made some costly errors along the way.

Cundy also questioned Penders’ decision-making, suggesting that the goalkeeper had been overly eager when introduced against Everton. He highlighted an incident in which Penders rushed off his line and punched the ball near the edge of the penalty area, arguing that the youngster needed to refine certain aspects of his performance.

Although Cundy acknowledged that regular playing time could speed up Penders’ development, he stressed that Chelsea must assess how well the young goalkeeper handles the pressure and responsibility associated with playing regularly for the club.

His opinion of Acheampong was much more encouraging. Cundy believes the academy graduate has the qualities to become a valuable member of Alonso’s squad, particularly because of his versatility across different defensive positions.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has also praised the England Under-21 international’s adaptability following his impressive performance in a hybrid right-sided defensive role during the victory over Everton.

Cundy echoed the manager’s assessment, commending Acheampong’s technical ability and willingness to adjust to different tactical requirements. He pointed out that the youngster had adapted successfully to playing in a back four, with Lacroix and Colwill operating as the central defensive partnership.

The former Chelsea defender described Acheampong’s performance at right-back against Everton as outstanding, highlighting how effectively he understood and carried out his defensive responsibilities within the team’s tactical system.

Meanwhile, Chelsea face a challenging run of fixtures, beginning with their upcoming clash against Tottenham. The Blues will then travel to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup before taking on Manchester United.

The demanding schedule will test Alonso’s squad depth and ability to maintain consistent performances, leaving the Chelsea manager with limited opportunities to rest his players as the season progresses.