Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has hailed Ethan Ampadu for his 'mature' display against Bournemouth and has backed the youngster to have a "great future".
The 17-year-old was handed his second senior start on Wednesday evening in the Blues' 2-1 EFL Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth.
Ampadu, also used once from the bench in the Premier League this term, produced another solid display in the centre of defence despite walking a tightrope for 88 minutes.
A strong challenge on Jermain Defoe early in the match was penalised by referee Lee Mason with a yellow card, and Conte believes that the Wales international did well to adapt.
"After one minute and 40 seconds, you decide to book a player who is 17-years-old... I think he played the whole game with this problem, and it's not simple for a defender to play after a yellow card in the second minute," he told reporters.
"You have to play 93 minutes with this danger. But he showed great maturity and personality. If you remember, I spoke about this player in an enthusiastic way. I said in the past that this player, despite his young age, has shown great maturity.
"I don't like to make gifts for someone. If they deserve it, I'm ready to play with very young players. Why not. Ampadu deserved to play this game and against Everton and against Huddersfield in the league. Now he has to stay calm.
"Maybe next game, he'll go to play for the youth league. I don't know. But this player is very humble. He could have a great future, but he has to continue in this way, to improve and to work."
Ampadu joined the Premier League champions from Exeter City, where he made his debut at the age of 15 years and 331 days last year.
Daniel Lewis
