Ruben Loftus-Cheek looking forward to 'amazing' opportunity to make Chelsea debut

Since Jose Mourinho broke the news yesterday, the Chelsea fan-verse has been buzzing about and buzzing for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.  Even if the 18-year-old doesn't start against Sporting Lisbon, he's practically guaranteed to make his debut for the Chelsea first-team, becoming the fifth teenager from the youth academy to do so -- joining Dominic Solanke, Andreas Christensen, John Swift, and Lewis Baker -- since Jose Mourinho returned to the club.

But what does the young man himself think about all this?  Spoiler alert: he's a tad bit excited.

"It's great, it's amazing for me. I've been here for quite a while now - since I was eight - so to be involved, even just training with the first team, means a lot to me."

"To play tomorrow night would be amazing. Since I was a young kid I've been watching Chelsea on the TV and thinking maybe one day I'll be playing at Stamford Bridge."

"If the opportunity comes then great but if it doesn't then I'll keep working hard, do my best every day and see what happens."

-Ruben Loftus-Cheek; source: Chelsea FC

As it turns out, Loftus-Cheek had been training with the first team for the last few weeks and it would appear that he will continue to do so going forward.  His words about working hard and waiting patiently for his opportunities match what most of the other academy players have said and once again show that we're working to develop not just the technical and physical skills of our young superstars.  Young players who work hard, stay humble, and keep their feet firmly on the ground aren't unique by any means; a whole world class academy-ful of them just might be.

Go on, Ruben!