Introducing the Chelsea Youngsters Set for Champions League vs. Sporting
Chelsea's Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday will be "academy day," according to Jose Mourinho.
With Group G wrapped up and qualification for the last 16 secure, the Chelsea boss revealed he will be using Matchday 6 to blood more of his youngsters and give them an opportunity to impress on the European stage.
Mourinho added that John Terry, Eden Hazard and Willian will also not take part in the game, meaning we can expect a more youthful line-up than usual at Stamford Bridge.
"[Ruben] Loftus-Cheek will play a part," Mourinho told the gathered press, meaning the 18-year-old will make his Chelsea debut.
The other youngsters to be involved are likely to be those in and around the first team already, such as Dominic Solanke, Lewis Baker, Izzy Brown, Andreas Christensen and Nathan Ake.
Bleacher Report takes a closer look at Chelsea's potential stars of the future.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
1 of 6A Chelsea player since the age of eight, Loftus-Cheek was signed by the club's academy coaches during Jose Mourinho's first spell in charge as manager.
He has since risen through the ranks, playing for the various age groups before captaining the club to FA Youth Cup success last season.
Loftus-Cheek is a player Chelsea value highly and, with his physical presence in the heart of midfield, has been catching attention of fans and the media.
Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe did some scouting work of his own (above), suggesting the young Englishman has all the qualities to emerge as the next Yaya Toure of the Premier League.
Loftus-Cheek has a long way to go before he can be compared to such stars, but Chelsea certainly have faith in his talents.
Club and player will hope his debut against Sporting Lisbon this week will be the first of many performances in a Chelsea shirt.
Fact file
Place of birth: Lewisham, London
Date of birth: 23 January 1996
Position: Midfield
Weight: 82 kg
Nathan Ake
2 of 6
He's been around the Chelsea first-team squad for so long that it's strange to refer to Nathan Ake as being among the youngsters at Chelsea.
Aged 19, he still very much is one, albeit with experience that defies his youth.
Ake has just hit double figures with his Chelsea appearances over the last three years, but he has shown over the past two seasons just how much the day-in, day-out training with his more established team-mates has allowed him to develop.
The Dutch ace already looks an accomplished player in the holding role in midfield, but is versatile enough to play in defence.
During pre-season we saw Ake fill in at left-back while the rest of the squad were still recuperating from their World Cup duties. This season he has played in the midfield pivot.
With John Obi Mikel continuing to disappoint, Mourinho may well look to fast-track him to become Nemanja Matic's understudy.
Fact file
Place of birth: 's-Gravenhage, Holland
Date of birth: 18 February 1995
Position: Midfield/Defence
Weight: 82 kg
Andreas Christensen
3 of 6Chelsea beat off competition from a number of Europe's leading clubs to bring Andreas Christensen to Stamford Bridge in 2012.
The Dane had come through at Brondby, and his performances with the youth team sparked interest across the continent.
It's not difficult to see why as Christensen is already showing himself to be a classy operator.
He has featured just once this season against Shrewsbury Town in a Capital One Cup game in which he was played out of position at right-back.
A centre-back by trade, Christensen didn't look out of place that night and had to battle against League 2 opposition desperate to pull off a major upset.
Christensen seems to have everything to go on and emulate the success of Chelsea's last academy star—John Terry.
Fact file
Place of birth: Allerod, Denmark
Date of birth: 10 April 1996
Position: Defence
Weight: 75.5 kg
Lewis Baker
4 of 6
After Lewis Baker made his debut as a late substitute against Derby County in the FA Cup last season, Chelsea fans were hoping to see more of him.
It hasn't quite happened for the 19-year-old, though, and he is now eagerly awaiting another chance to impress Jose Mourinho.
Baker has been on the bench for Chelsea a number of times this season, so it's a surprise the manager hasn't at least used him in the Capital One Cup.
The club's reigning Young Player of the Year award winner, Baker was impressive in pre-season for Chelsea. He made a considerable impact in matches, earning more praise from those in and around the first-team camp.
Wednesday night against Sporting Lisbon could be his chance to show exactly what he is capable of of the big stage.
Fact file
Place of birth: Luton
Date of birth: 25 April 1995
Position: Midfield
Weight: 72 kg
Dominic Solanke
5 of 6Striker Dominic Solanke is one of the most exciting prospects in the Chelsea academy right now.
Still only 17 years old, he is the club's youngest player to feature in the Champions League, coming off the bench in the 6-0 defeat of Maribor earlier this season.
He has a big reputation in youth-team football, too.
Last season he scored 22 goals for the under-18s, including a brace to seal victory over Fulham in the FA Youth Cup final.
Solanke is also a regular with the England development teams.
Mourinho has already confirmed Diego Costa will start against Sporting Lisbon, but Solanke may well creep onto the bench and be given a cameo.
Bleacher Report caught up with Solanke after his Champions League debut. You can watch the interview with him and Nathan Ake above.
Fact file
Place of birth: Reading
Date of birth: 14 September 1997
Position: Striker
Weight: 74 kg
Izzy Brown
6 of 6
Like Lewis Baker, Chelsea's Izzy Brown is one of the most exciting prospects the club have in their youth ranks right now.
He already has Premier League experience having played for West Bromwich Albion when he was still only 16, and judging by his continued good form for the Blues, it won't be long before he is turning out regularly for them.
Brown is a nifty talent and a schemer who enjoys operating behind the striker and carving out openings. That said, he is equally adept playing the front-man role, something he has done this season to good effect.
He showed a lot of promise in pre-season, scoring twice against Wycombe Wanderers and is a player Mourinho will be thinking about a lot in the coming months.
Fact file
Place of birth: Peterborough
Date of birth: 7 January 1997
Position: Midfield
Weight: 77 kg
*All stats: Chelsea FC
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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