Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Dominic Solanke will be part of his matchday Champions League squad for the first time on Tuesday night.
The Blues welcome Slovenian side Maribor to Stamford Bridge.
And with injury and fitness concerns over Diego Costa and Didier Drogba, the Portuguese has included the striker in his matchday squad.
"He’s on the bench tomorrow," Mourinho said. "He’s 17 years old, obviously he has a long way to go but the talent is there.
"The personality is there too and we are working closely with him.
"When he is in the academy he works there, when he is with me he works with me."
Dominic Solanke was part of the victorious England U17 side in the European Championship in May
Solanke – who played a starring role in England's U17 European Championship victory and Chelsea's 2014 FA Youth Cup triumph – was also named on the bench for the Blues' trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
And Mourinho has made no secret of his admiration for his current crop of Chelsea youngsters.
During the club's pre-season tour of America in the summer, Mourinho pledged his support to the promising batch of young English talent emerging through the club's academy.
He said: "My conscience tells me that if, for example, [Lewis] Baker, [Izzy] Brown, and Solanke are not national team players in a few years, I should blame myself."
