Antonio Conte believes England's U17 World Cup win will reap success at senior level

Chelsea manager Conte admits he took pride from the fact five of his club’s teenagers were part of Steve Cooper’s squad that were crowned world champions after beating Spain 5-2 in Kolkata on Saturday.

The outstanding achievement came after the Under 20s won the World Cup in South Korea earlier this year while the roll call of success includes the Under 19s becoming European champions and the Under 21s reaching the last four of their Euros.

Conte believes his experience as a former Italy manager gives him insight into what it takes to deliver international success – and he is certain England are on course to finally deliver at the highest level.

“I think football in England is growing in an incredible way because it is not the only result for young players because under-19s, under-20s have won and the under-21s played a really good European cup,” said Conte.

“It means in England football is growing and improving a lot. I am sure that in the future, the England national team, the first team will be very difficult to beat.

“I want to tell you this because I was a coach with the Italy national team and when you have this movement behind you, you can have a great possibility to have a strong team for the next World Cup and for the competitions for the national team.”

Chelsea youngsters Marc Guehi, Jonathan Panzo, Connor Gallagher, George McEachran and Callum Hudson Odoi were involved in India.

The Stamford Bridge club has come in for plenty of stick over the failure to bring academy players through the ranks and into the first team.

But Conte says the fact he made his Serie A debut as a 16-year-old means he is always keen to progress youngsters who can make the step up and points to the way he brought Paul Pogba into the Juventus first team as evidence of his commitment to youth.

“I am very happy for our five players, and sometimes [Callum-Hudson] Odoi came to train with us (the first team),” said Conte. “I am very happy for our academy because it means our academy is working very well.

“Against Everton, Ethan Ampadu played for the first time and he is only 17. Don’t forget that my first appearance in my career in Serie A, I was only 16. I am the best person to give this type of possibility, if I see they deserve it.

“I repeat, in my experience at Juventus, Paul Pogba was only 18 and then after one month he played from the start. I want to give these possibilities – but you have to deserve these possibilities. Ampadu, for example, is not an England player, he is only 17 but he deserves to stay with us and to develop, to be the future for Chelsea.”