Chelsea take former AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia on trial

Trial: Marco Amelia is undergoing a trial at Chelsea ahead of potentially signing for the club
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj29 September 2015

Chelsea have handed former AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia a trial at the club as Jose Mourinho seeks an experienced back-up shot-stopper for Asmir Begovic.

Mourinho has been forced to play Begovic - who the club signed this summer - in all of Chelsea's games since first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, suffered a knee injury in training in early September.

Despite the Bosnia and Herzegovina international impressing in Courtois' absence, Mourinho is believed to be concerned he could be left short should Begovic suffer an injury or a suspension - with 21-year-old Jamal Blackman his only other alternative in goal.

Courtois is expected to be missing from action until at least December following knee surgery this month, and it has led to Mourinho weighing up a move for free agent Amelia.

When asked on the eve of Chelsea playing Porto in the Champions League whether he was interested in signing the Portuguese club's veteran goalkeeper Helton, Mourinho said: "We need a goalkeeper now, not in January.

Chelsea in training

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"Helton has a contract with Porto and will only be available in January. Then Courtois will be fit."

Chelsea have space to add another player to their team after naming 19 footballers in their 25-man Premier League squad, including five home-grown players.

And Amelia could fit the bill should he impress during his trial despite not playing regularly since leaving Milan last summer.

The 33-year-old spent four years at the Serie A giants before leaving in 2014 and playing for amateur side Rocca Priora and later Serie B club Perugia.

He also picked up a World Cup winner's medal with his nation Italy in 2006, although he was only used as a third goalkeeper during the tournament.

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