Guus Hiddink has promoted 18-year-old Jake Clarke-Salter to Chelsea’s first-team squad in response to Kurt Zouma’s six-month knee ligament injury lay-off.
The central defender, who is captain of the Blues’ FA Youth Cup side, will provide back-up for John Terry and Gary Cahill alongside Matt Miazga for the remainder of the season.
Here, Sportsmail fills you in on everything you need to know about the youngster making a rare break through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
The central defender, who is captain of the Blues’ FA Youth Cup side, will provide back-up for John Terry and Gary Cahill alongside Matt Miazga for the remainder of the season.
Here, Sportsmail fills you in on everything you need to know about the youngster making a rare break through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
What’s the deal?
Clarke-Slater has been at Chelsea for the best part of a decade, working his way up through the ranks from the Under-9s group to now being included in first-team sessions.
He is part of the Under-21 squad and also captains the Under-18s side who reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup this week.
Clarke-Salter is used to playing at levels above his age and he already has two Youth Cup titles to his name. He hopes to join a select group of just five players to have won the competition three times in its history.
The centre back signed a new four-year contract in November and is an England Under-19 regular.
Clarke-Slater has been at Chelsea for the best part of a decade, working his way up through the ranks from the Under-9s group to now being included in first-team sessions.
He is part of the Under-21 squad and also captains the Under-18s side who reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup this week.
Clarke-Salter is used to playing at levels above his age and he already has two Youth Cup titles to his name. He hopes to join a select group of just five players to have won the competition three times in its history.
The centre back signed a new four-year contract in November and is an England Under-19 regular.
What do you get from him?
The man whose name Guus Hiddink could not remember in Friday’s press conference is a powerful and composed central defender.
A natural leader at the back, Clarke-Salter played a key role in last season’s UEFA Youth League win which saw him start six games, coming on as a substitute in the other four.
He is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has the athletic physique and pace needed to cope with powerful forwards.
Clarke-Salter hasn’t been a huge threat going forward, although he did score a stoppage-time winner in a 5-4 victory over Tottenham for the Under-21s last month.
The man whose name Guus Hiddink could not remember in Friday’s press conference is a powerful and composed central defender.
A natural leader at the back, Clarke-Salter played a key role in last season’s UEFA Youth League win which saw him start six games, coming on as a substitute in the other four.
He is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has the athletic physique and pace needed to cope with powerful forwards.
Clarke-Salter hasn’t been a huge threat going forward, although he did score a stoppage-time winner in a 5-4 victory over Tottenham for the Under-21s last month.
Is he ready for the step-up?
It’s no secret that Chelsea have a big problem with converting youth prospects into first-team stars.
John Terry, now 35, was the last player to do so. Clarke-Salter will hope he can achieve a similar rise into a regular centre back role one day.
As someone used to stepping up to levels higher than usually expected of players his age, this move to join the likes of Terry, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, is unlikely to faze the youngster.
He has been involved with the group before - travelling with them to both Chelsea’s post-season tour of Asia and Australia, and their pre-season tour of the United States before the current campaign.
When Matt Miazga signed from New York Red Bulls last month, Chelsea academy duo Josi Quintero and Kasey Palmer commented on the club’s Instagram post with a ‘quizzical’ emoji and tagging Clarke-Salter - seeming to hint that it was about time he got the chance. Now he has.
It’s no secret that Chelsea have a big problem with converting youth prospects into first-team stars.
John Terry, now 35, was the last player to do so. Clarke-Salter will hope he can achieve a similar rise into a regular centre back role one day.
As someone used to stepping up to levels higher than usually expected of players his age, this move to join the likes of Terry, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, is unlikely to faze the youngster.
He has been involved with the group before - travelling with them to both Chelsea’s post-season tour of Asia and Australia, and their pre-season tour of the United States before the current campaign.
When Matt Miazga signed from New York Red Bulls last month, Chelsea academy duo Josi Quintero and Kasey Palmer commented on the club’s Instagram post with a ‘quizzical’ emoji and tagging Clarke-Salter - seeming to hint that it was about time he got the chance. Now he has.
What’s been said about him?
Former FA head of youth development Trevor Brooking: ‘Clarke-Salter can form a brilliant centre-half partnership with John Stones for England. Players need the opportunity to develop through.’
Hiddink on the impact of Zouma’s injury: ‘It gives other people the chance to step up..... We have no fear of bringing youngsters in.’
Former FA head of youth development Trevor Brooking: ‘Clarke-Salter can form a brilliant centre-half partnership with John Stones for England. Players need the opportunity to develop through.’
Hiddink on the impact of Zouma’s injury: ‘It gives other people the chance to step up..... We have no fear of bringing youngsters in.’
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