Charly Musonda's tears to endorse his first Chelsea goal could prove a watershed moment for the champions’ conveyor belt of academy talent.
Former England captain John Terry was the last home-grown player to establish himself as a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge — and that happened so long ago he broke through in the last century.
But as Musonda decorated his first start for the Blues with a goal – and an extravagant celebration – in the Carabao Cup romp past Nottingham Forest, Chelsea finished their 5-1 third-round win with kids littered all over the pitch.
Apart from Belgium Under-21 international Musonda, manager Antonio Conte gave three British youngsters a taste of first-team action from the bench.
One of them, 17-year-old midfielder Ethan Ampadu, became Chelsea’s first player born in the 21st century. Jake Clarke-Salter, who turns 20 on Friday, and another 17-year-old, Dujon Sterling, also enjoyed late gallops throigh the Forest.
And Danish defender Andreas Christensen, 21, finished his football education at Stamford Bridge after joining as a teenager.
But among Conte’s platoon of Baby Blues, livewire Musonda is the only one likely to make the squad for Saturday's Premier League trip to Stoke.
There was nothing big-time Charly about the Brussels-born forward’s display on Wednesday night, and he said: “It was an emotional moment to score my first goal at the Bridge. I can’t even remember it now – I was very happy and everyone could see that.
“I was in tears, to be honest. If the lads didn’t come and get me, I don’t know what would have happened. It was a great moment.
“It’s only the first game and I have to keep working. But it’s great to see young players coming on and the manager giving confidence to the young players.”
Musonda’s father, also called Charly, was a Zambia international midfielder whose team-mates were among all 30 passengers killed in a plane crash off the coast of Gabon 24 years ago.
Having been called up for the fateful World Cup qualifier against Senegal, traumatised Musonda only survived because he was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury and he was in hospital after a knee operation when the tragedy wiped out an entire national squad.
His son’s emergence from Chelsea’s academy system, which has served too often as a finishing school for young players who are sold on for a handsome profit, could yet mark a seismic shift in the club’s recruitment policy.
Fans were beginning to despair of seeing their own talent flourish at the Bridge when Chelsea sold home-grown Nathaniel Chalobah to Watford for £5million and paid Leicester £35m for England midfielder Danny Drinkwater as a replacement.
But Conte suggested he could field another young side in the fourth round next month, at home to Everton, saying: “We are a great club and every competition is important to us.
“If we answer like this tonight, why not give the opportunity to these players?”