Chelsea youth coach Jody Morris thinks that striker Olivier Giroud is one of the first names on Antonio Conte's team-sheet, after the Frenchman fired the Blues to the FA Cup final.
Giroud put Chelsea 1-0 up against Southampton at Wembley when he struck in the first minute of the second half, showing superb control in the penalty area to move the ball from one foot to the other and then poke his effort into the back of the net.
Conte brought Giroud off with ten minutes left and Alvaro Morata, who replaced the Frenchman, sealed a 2-0 win with a header from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross.
Chelsea have now booked a spot in the FA Cup final in May against Jose Mourinho's Manchester United and Morris admits that Giroud is in pole position to once again start in the big occasion.
"I think at the moment Giroud is, quite easily, one of the first names on the team-sheet", Morris said on Chelsea TV.
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"I like the way he is growing into being a Chelsea player because he is certainly a presence up top.
"It's not just for his footballing ability, but it looks like he wants to put himself about and his bit of experience in the team at the minute is valuable."
Chelsea snapped up Giroud from rivals Arsenal in the January transfer window, offloading Michy Batshuayi on a loan deal to Borussia Dortmund to make room for the Frenchman.
Giroud signed an 18-month deal and the Blues are being tipped to soon look at handing him a fresh contract.
