Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho claims it takes him just 10 minutes to determine whether a youngster can cut it with the champions

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Jose Mourinho claims it takes him just 10 minutes to work out whether a youngster is ready to cut it at Chelsea.

Mourinho insists it only takes a short amount of time to tell when a player is ready both mentally and physically – not a run of games.

FA Chairman Greg Dyke is campaigning to increase the minimum number of home-grown young players in club squads from eight to 12, but Mourinho claims his time is at a premium.

Jose Mourinho claims it takes him 10 minutes to work out whether a youngster is ready to play for Chelsea

'We're in England - we're not in China or Japan or Portugal - so it's quite fair that people are trying to get solutions for more local players,' said Mourinho.

'That's more than fair. But you know, I'm a coach. I'm not an office man and for me, as a coach, I think that the players must give confidence for me to say, 'let's go'...not the other way.

'The players and the agents would like this, 'Oh I need five matches in a row to prove myself'.

'You need five matches in a row? Oh, fantastic'. You don't need five matches in a row. You need 10 minutes.

Mourinho used defender Kurt Zouma as an example after the French defender made an impression at Chelsea

'In 10 minutes you can show me if you are ready or if you are not ready. Kurt Zouma didn't have five matches in a row (after he arrived from St Etienne in January).

'In 10 minutes it's difficult to score a Maradona goal, to get the ball in midfield, dribble around 10 guys and score.

'But that's not what you're expecting from a player. In 10 minutes you can show a lot - a lot.

Chelsea boss Mourinho hit out at Ruben Loftus-Cheek earlier this summer saying he didn't try hard enough

'You can show you are ready, you are mentally ready, you're physically ready, and you're ready to cope with the pressure. Ten minutes can say a lot.' 

Earlier this summer Mourinho hit out at England Under 21 star Ruben Loftus-Cheek, claiming the 19-year-old did not try hard enough during a friendly match.

Asked if the midfielder had taken his criticism on, Mourinho added 'Let's wait and see.'