Chelsea kid Ethan Ampadu in line to make first team bow in Carabao Cup despite compensation not agreed yet with Exeter City
Amapadu joined Chelsea last year after making Grecians debut aged just 15 but the clubs are yet to agree a compensation deal for the midfielder
ETHAN AMPADU is in line to become one of the youngest players to make their Chelsea debut tonight, despite the club still to agree a fee with Exeter City.
Ampadu, who turned 17 last week is in the squad to face Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge.
Blues boss Antonio Conte has confirmed he will shuffle his pack for the visit of the Championship side with Charly Musonda, Jake Clarke-Salter and Dujon Sterling getting a chance to impress.
Ian Hamilton, aged 16 years and 138 days in 1967 is the club’s youngest ever debutant, but the Welsh youngster will enter the club’s all time top 10 youngest if he get on the pitch.
Ampadu, son of former Arsenal, West Brom midfielder Kwame turned down the chance to join the Gunners, despite his father being part of the Emirates coaching set up.
The teenager made his Exeter first-team bow aged 15 in the League Cup last year and was in the Wales squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Moldova last month.
The Blues are still in talks with the League Two side about compensation - the Grecians are demanding £3million for the highly-rated star, but a fee now looks likely to be settled by a tribunal.
Conte has been impressed with Ampadu while training with the first-team squad at Cobham.
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The Italian coach said: “He has good prospects to become a Chelsea player. He's strong physically, good technique and personality.
“Yes, I think we have to continue to work with him and to try and improve him, to bring him to the next step.”
“I don't think that, if your national team calls you up and you are 15 or 16 years old, it puts pressure on you.
“You must be proud of this. But, for sure, he has to work a lot to deserve another call-up to the national team.
“We must be pleased because this player is a Chelsea player and now it's important to work very well with him and try and improve his weaknesses. But he's a young player and I'm sure he's a good prospect for Chelsea.”
But Conte has warned he will not be trying to do any of Chelsea’s youngsters a favour and given the opportunity, they must stake a claim to be part of his plans this season.
Conte added: “Don't forget that my first appearance in Serie A was when I was 16.
“I think I'm the first person to trust in the young players, to give possibilities to them, if young players deserve this chance.
“If the young players give me the possibility to win. I want to win. I don't want to lose.”
Kenedy is set to make his first Chelsea appearance since being sent home from the club’s pre-season tour of China and Singapore for a series of inappropriate social media posts, while Eden Hazard will start his first game following ankle surgery.