Jose Mourinho has already confirmed Ruben Loftus-Cheek will play on Wednesday night.
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Chelsea’s Champions League match with Sporting Lisbon is being seen as an opportunity for Jose Mourinho to blood some Blues youngsters with proper competitive action as the tie is effectively a dead rubber.
Chelsea already secured qualification to the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition in the previous round, providing Mourinho with the opportunity to rest some key squad personnel before the hectic Christmas fixture schedule and hand some burgeoning, up and coming youngsters the opportunity to impress in the first team.
John Terry, Willian and Hazard are already confirmed as sitting out the tie meaning you can expect a more youthful line-up and bench against Sporting filled with a number of unknown and rarely seen players.
CaughtOffside takes a look at some of these unfamiliar Chelsea youngsters you may see on the team-sheet tonight.
Andreas Christensen
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Denmark
Position: Defence
The Blues competed with a number of clubs for the Dane’s signature. Developed at Bromby, now Daniel Agger’s stomping ground, his performances in the youth team in Denmark attracted interest form around Europe before he ended up at Stamford Bridge.
A centre-back by trade, Christensen has featured once this season in the Capital One Cup away at Shrewsbury although was played out of position at right-back.
Izzy Brown
Age: 17
Place of Birth: Peterborough, UK
Position: Striker/Winger
One of Chelsea’s hottest prospects, big things are expected in Brown’s future having already played for Premier League side West Brom when he was just 16.
Enjoys playing in the number 10 role, behind the striker, opening up space and creating numerous chances however, the 17 year old is equally adept at playing up-top himself which he has done on numerous occasions for Chelsea’s youth sides this season.
Showed a lot of promise in pre-season and could be continually forcing his way into the Chelsea first team in the coming months.
Nathan Ake
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Holland
Position: Midfield, Defence
Versatile enough to play in defence but preferring to anchor the midfield, Ake has been hanging around on the outskirts of the Chelsea first team for a number of years but hasn’t been able to make the break through yet.
He’s made a number of first team appearances for the Blues in the past few season, even coming on as a second half substitute against Maribor in Chelsea’s 6-0 demolition.
Still very much raw and inexperienced but could be a better option off the bench for Mourinho than the ever disappointing John Obi Mikel.
Lewis Baker Age: 19
Place of Birth: Luton, UK
Position: Midfield
The reigning Young Player of the Year award winner at Chelsea, it was hoped that Baker could break into the first team this season after he made a late substitute appearance in the FA Cup last season.
Whilst that’s not quite happened for Baker Wednesday night could prove to be the chance he needs to prove to Mourinho he can do it on the big stage especially after putting in some great performances in pre-season.
Dominic Solanke
Age: 17
Place of Birth: Reading, UK
Position: Striker
The young striker is one of the brightest prospects in the Chelsea Academy with a burgeoning reputation following 22 goals for the U-18s last season, not to mention the two goals he scored to help the Blues win the Youth FA Cup.
Solanke is also the club’s youngest ever player to feature in the Champions League after he too came on against Maribor in that 6-0 thrashing.
Whilst Mourinho has confirmed Diego Costa will start, he might just prefer Solanke to veteran Didier Drogba on the bench and give the 17 year old another brief European cameo.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Age: 18
Place of Birth: Lewisham, UK
Position: Midfield
Cast into the spotlight by Jose Mourinho in yesterday’s press conference, supporters will definitely get a glimpse of the highly regarded midfielder tomorrow night with the Chelsea boss promising at least a substitute appearance for the Londoner.
Loftus-Cheek was actually signed by the club during Mourinho’s first spell as coach at the tender age of eight and has risen through the Chelsea ranks in the years since culminating in captaining his side to FA Youth Cup success.
Chelsea certainly seem to have faith he could replicate his talents in the first team and many eyes will be on the Englishman as he makes his debut tonight.