Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gave 19-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek his first start for the club against Liverpool on Sunday.
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The 53-year-old isn’t known for his willingness to trust younger players, but with their Under 18’s side recently winning the FA Youth Cup he could be set to change his ways.
There is certainly a lot of talent coming through the Blues’ academy, and here are five of the best who could be forcing their way in to the first team soon…
5) Izzy Brown, AMR/L/C
Signed from West Brom when he was only 16-years-old, the teenager has never appeared for the Blues. However, he was a part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup, and could make his first team debut before the end of the season after being named on the bench several times. The forward is also one of three who manager Jose Mourinho said will play for England one day, reported the Daily Mail at the time.
4) Dominic Solanke, ST
The striker has played for the first team, albeit for only 17 minutes when already 6-0 up against NK Maribor in the Champions League. However, much is expected of the 17-year-old, who is another the manager tipped for the national team.
3) Nathan Ake, CM/CB
Another who played in the Maribor encounter, and the 20-year-old has also also managed to make the bench on several occasions. A mixed loan spell with Reading in the Championship has shown that the youngster may need to move elsewhere if he wants regular football though.
2) Patrick Bamford, ST
The forward has been brilliant at Middlesbrough, being named the Championship player of the year and scoring 19 goals for the Riverside outfit. Those goals include strikes against Liverpool and Manchester City, proving he can do it against the best as well. With Didier Drogba not getting any younger at 37-years-old, the Ivorian’s replacement could already be at the club.
1) Lewis Baker, CM
On loan at MK Dons at the moment, the 20-year-old has made 12 league appearances and scored three times for the lower tier side. The last of the three Mourinho claimed will force their way in to international football, Baker could line up with Loftus-Cheek in a home grown middle pairing one day.