Chelsea FC fans delighted with man-of-the-match performance from academy graduate Ruben Loftus-Cheek [Tweets]

Chelsea FC teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek impressed in his first start of the season against UEFA Champions League Group G opponents Maccabi Tel-Aviv, much to the delight of the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho made several changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Goodison Park against Everton on Saturday, with England U21 international Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming in for Serbian Nemanja Mati at the centre of the Blues’ midfield.

The 19-year-old put in a mature performance playing in the midfield double-pivot alongside Cesc F bregas, showcasing his physicality as well as his technical ability in an impressive display. The youngster, who has been with the club from the U8s group, has now put in two quality shifts — first coming against Crystal Palace — and will have done his long-term chances no harm whatsoever.

Chelsea FC fans excited by Loftus-Cheek display

The Blues’ lack of a club-grown player in the first-team other than captain John Terry has always been a stick that critics have used to beat Chelsea FC with over the years. The emergence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, then, is genuine cause for excitement for the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Although it is too early to make any claims about him having already ‘made it’ to the first team — Josh McEachran’s is a cautionary tale few have forgotten — there is a sense that Loftus-Cheek will eventually establish himself in the Blues’ first team.

His assured display against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, all the more impressive given he picked up a very early booking, has seen calls for the teenager to start against Arsenal FC on Saturday. Blues fans were full of praise for the Loftus-Cheek on social networking site Twitter following their team’s thumping 4-0 win over the Israeli minnows on Wednesday night.