Guus Hiddink told by Chelsea officials to use youth players this season

With Chelsea's first-team struggling to find regular (good) form this season, the use of youth players by the club has become a running discussion in many forums. Seeing rumours linking high-profile prospects such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Charly Musonda to moves away from Stamford Bridge, many Chelsea fans voiced their discontent at the lack of chances being given to these players in the first-team. Fortunately for these fans, it could all change under Guus Hiddink.

According to the Daily Mail, new Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has been told by Chelsea officials to give "a clear pathway" to young talents from the team's academy over the next months. The report claims the club officials are still annoyed by Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne departures - even though they were the ones who set up their transfers - and also frustrated with Mourinho's treatment of players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek over his tenure.

Among the players most likely to be given chances this season in the first-team under Hiddink are Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ola Aina and Charly Musonda Jr.. But the latter might see himself somewhere else as the Mirror (not the best source, indeed) reports that new QPR manager and former Chelsea player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink sees Musonda as a target for his team in the next transfer window, hoping to use his connections with Stamford Bridge to strike a deal to have the Belgian youngster at Loftus Road. Eredivisie clubs AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord are also believed to be interested in Musonda's services.

With public and press clamouring to see more youth players used by Chelsea, especially with a top four chase in the league seemingly out of contention as the season progresses, this report might sound like music to the ears of some supporters. If true, this would also imply that the club aren't looking to spend much money in the winter transfer window, maybe to save resources for the summer as we might face hefty competition in the market not only for players but for managers as well.