Antonio Conte has defended his record on giving youth a chance – but says kids will need to be ‘Wayne Rooney’ if they want to play for Chelsea.

Everyone remembers the way Rooney ­announced himself at Everton, aged 16, with a goal against Arsenal before going on to become an England icon.

But, in the week when Roo quit international football, there is an uncomfortable comparison in west London.

Chelsea youth product Nathaniel Chalobah has just earned his first ­England call-up – but only after he was sold to Watford.

The Blues have also sent ­England prospect Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan to Crystal Palace and England Under-21 striker Tammy Abraham to Swansea.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been sent to Crystal Palace, deemed surplus to requirements (
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Getty Images)
Antonio Conte has been criticised for sending Chelsea's young talent out on loan (
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Action Images via Reuters)

In fact, they have 38 players out on loan this season – but are still desperately searching the transfer market to boost a “depleted” ­first-team squad.

It seems like Conte is giving up on ­Chelsea’s youth.

But the Blues boss insists a young Rooney WOULD still be given a chance at the Bridge – and so would others of the same standard.

“Yes, for sure,” he said, when asked the question. “Rooney showed his potential when he was 17 years old and not only did he keep his level, but he improved it.

Conte says he'd use a starlet if they're at the level of a young Wayne Rooney (
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Liverpool Echo)

“We’re talking about an icon of football, in general.

“But it’s not easy to have many Rooneys. It’s rare.

“If the young players are ready and are strong enough to play regularly, they can play.

“I put Paul Pogba, at 18, into the team at Juventus, for Marchisio.

“Don’t forget, too, for my first game in Serie A, I was only 16.

“So, I’m the first person open to do this because another coach did this with me.

“But, I repeat, you must have the possibilities to do this.

Andreas Christensen has cracked the Chelsea first team after returning from loan (
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Tottenham Hotspur FC)

“Show me young players who deserve to play regularly for ­Chelsea, and I’m ready to pick them.”

That sounds like a challenge to the likes of Loftus-Cheek who was close to an ­England call-up this week, despite being out on loan.

He can take heart from Andreas Christensen, who spent two years on loan in Germany, but played against Spurs at Wembley last week to cover for suspended Gary Cahill.

“I repeat, I like to work with young players,” said Conte. “Last season, if you saw our squad, we had eight players from the ­academy and we won the league with eight players from the academy, and 14 or 15 senior players.”

Paul Pogba got his start under Antonio Conte at Juventus (
Image:
Getty)

The irony, of course, is that so many of those players from last year are now gone – either sold or sent on loan.

Even England youth hero Abraham, who banged in goals for fun in the Championship with Bristol City last season, didn’t get a chance to join the first-team squad this time.

Nor did Kurt Zouma, sent on loan to Stoke.

“Sometimes, there are football dynamics outside that you can’t see,” the Blues boss said.

“Sometimes you can’t ­understand. I have to understand.”