Chelsea's Mike Penders gets one up on Belgium GOAT Courtois: find out where

Report and picture by Alessandro Schiavone at Stade Symphorien in Metz

FC Metz 0-1 Strasbourg

It almost looked like the "new Courtois" would emulate the "real Courtois" until Strasbourg's Argentine centre-forward Joaquin Panichelli's 86th minute header sank Metz in the Ligue 1 opener on Sunday.

Chelsea loanee goalie Penders snoozed his way through the game. Other than tipping a miscued Salaby shot-cross over the crossbar in the latter part of the first period and catching a cross late on he had little to do.

The 20-year-old, who is tasked with guarding Strasbourg's goal this season, has drawn similarities with Courtois given the pair's almost-identtical starts to their careers, precocity, nationality and height. And Genk, of course. But Courtois's Atleti failed to beat Osasuna on his first-ever La Liga outing back in November 2011.

Yet like Penders, Belgium's all-time greatest goalkeeper rose to prominence in Genk as a teenie before Chelsea pounced when he was 19.

With Petr Cech the undisputed starter in west London and chances of regular football reduced, the club decided to loan him out to Atletico Madrid until 2014.

Likewise given the presence of Robert Sanchez and Filip Jörgensen, the new prodigy was sent on loan to Alsace.

But the capture of Penders may also explain why Chelsea don't make the most of Gianluigi Donnarumma's availability.

'Gigio' is up for grabs for less than £50milion after being frozen out by PSG. And Chelsea's history of buying in bulk means they would have no issue parting with that affordable amount to bring the best goalkeeper in the world to Stamford Bridge.

Yet the club are adamant they have the new Courtois on their books hence do not see it as priority to strengthen which paves the way to the two Manchester clubs.

The only difference thus far is that Courtois was parked in La Liga, while Penders is earning his stripes in Ligue 1 at Chelsea's sister club.

Oh, and what also unites the master and his alumni is the fact they both kept a clean sheet on their debut for their new clubs outside Genk.

But unlike Thibaut de Groote from Bilzen, his young successor from Maasmechelen won...