Wright confident son will shine
Shaun Wright-Phillips has been tipped to stay and make an impression at Chelsea next season, despite struggling for first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge.
His father Ian Wright believes the winger will soon be in contention for a regular place under Jose Mourinho, who signed the 24-year-old last summer from Manchester City for £21m (€30.3m).
Changes are anticipated at Chelsea next season but Wright expects his son to be at the club and returning to the form he showed with City before moving from Eastlands.
Wright said: “It’s his first season at the club and I’m sure he knows what it takes to break into the first team.
“He joined the champions so he knew it would mean he could have to be patient, I’m sure his time will come next season.
“The fact is that the guy can really play.”
Arjen Robben, Joe Cole and Damien Duff have been preferred on the flanks this season, although Wright-Phillips has impressed when he has been handed a chance by Mourinho.
A lack of action means his place in England’s World Cup squad has been questioned although his father remains confident.
“Fingers crossed he will be going to Germany,” said Wright, who has been in London promoting Sure FanZone, which gives 150 fans the chance to watch England’s World Cup games in a unique atmosphere on the banks of the Thames.
“He did really well when he came on against Uruguay and England would want someone capable of going past other players.”
Meanwhile, City manager Stuart Pearce has admitted selling Wright-Phillips to Chelsea last summer probably cost the club a place in Europe.
Without Wright-Phillips, City have ended up in the bottom half of the Premiership.
“It would have been fantastic to have kept him and added maybe three or four new faces,” the City boss told The Manchester Evening News.
“Taking Shaun out made a difference. The 10 goals that Shaun delivered probably would have put us in a European place.”
