Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that young defender Kurt Zouma is making big strides in his progress.
The 20-year-old has been given a chance to prove his ability in tomorrow's FA Cup match against Bradford City.
The defender is expected to feature for the Blues in the fourth-round tie as captain John Terry is due to be rested.
"We are impressed," Mourinho said in today's press conference. "We bought a talent but that talent was far from ready and at the beginning of the season people were thinking it would be better for him to go somewhere [on loan] and play, but we thought It was better for him to stay and learn here in this habitat where for sure he will be a player for many years. We are very happy with him."
Zouma signed for Chelsea from Saint-Etienne last year.