Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks to learn from Nemanja Matic

• e-mail

He is widely regarded as the Barclays Premier League's best holding midfielder, so it's probably a good thing for Chelsea that Nemanja Matic is viewed as a role model by youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Serbian midfielder has been suspended for Chelsea's last two games but is set to return against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League - and Loftus-Cheek has the best seat in the house to observe him from Chelsea's bench.

The 19-year-old has appeared twice for Chelsea this season after being promoted to Jose Mourinho's first-team squad and sees Matic as his benchmark for success - despite being a more forward-thinking player than his idol. 

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has spoken out about comparisons drawn between him and Nemanja Matic at Chelsea

'We're both tall players and central midfielders. I can see why there would be comparisons there, Loftus-Cheek said. 'I try to watch Nemanja defensively because I don't think there's anyone better than him in that role as a defensive midfielder and that's what I think I need to improve on.

'I watch him and try to pick up things. I do like attacking more, but I enjoy defending as well. I like both parts of the game.

'I've worked hard to get rewards [this season] and it feels great so I'm going to continue with that and try to push on. My body has got stronger, so I'm able to cope with training with the first-team more and training with them has improved my technique.

Loftus-Cheek has been around the Chelsea first team all season and has been observing Matic's play

'Watching those players train, when I came over to them as an academy player makes me want to kick on.'

Mourinho said after Wednesday's win over West Ham that Loftus-Cheek was good enough for Chelsea's first team, but that he wouldn't risk the youngster given the pressure of the title race.

'I had Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the bench and I have to say that, in my opinion, next year, this kid will be a big surprise in the Premier League,' Mourinho said.

'This season, if I was not playing for the title and if we were not playing with the pressure we have when you are playing for the title, this kid would already be on the pitch.

'But it's step-by-step and today was again a day for (Kurt) Zouma to help John (Terry) and (Gary) Cahill in a game when (Diafra) Sakho and (Enner) Valencia are very difficult opponents.' 

Matic poses with the Capital One Cup and Branislav Ivanovic (left) after Chelsea's victory at Wembley