FA Youth Cup: Where are Chelsea kids now?

Chelsea beat Manchester City 3-1 to take a first-leg lead in the FA Youth Cup final, but what might the future hold for the latest crop of youngsters? We look back at last year's final and ask: where are they now?

Two goals for Tammy Abraham and a late strike from Dominic Solanke have put the young Blues are on the brink of securing the trophy for the second year in a row after beating Fulham 7-6 on aggregate last season.

It's their sixth final in eight years but what's happened to the youngsters who previously made it to the showpiece? 

From the 133 players who have played in the last five FA Youth Cup final, only 26% are currently in the Premier League with 24% in the Championship. More than one in ten is without a club or in non-league football.

Last season's finalists

John Terry was the last Chelsea player to break through and become a regular starter for Chelsea but that was 15 years ago.

Only three of the players who featured against Fulham last season have made an appearance in the first-team line-up this term.

Highly-rated Ruben Loftus-Cheek got a chance to impress against Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon, while Solanke made has a lone appearance against Maribor. Danish centre-back Andreas Christensen is the only other player to have since made the step-up, making League and FA Cup appearances against Shrewsbury and Bradford.

By contrast, four of last year's finalists - inlcuding Moussa Dembele, George Williams and Patrick Roberts - have been regular starters in Fulham's first-team, making a combined total of 54 appearances in contrast to Chelsea’s five.

What the experts think

Dean Ashton and Clinton Morrison, speaking on Sky Sports News HQ's Morning View agree that foreign imports and money being invested at the highest level continue to hinder young players' development but believes recent FA proposals for new homegrown rules offer hope for the future.

“It’s still very difficult to make it as a professional footballer and make that step up," said Dean Ashton. "There’s been a lot of foreign imports but I think that will change with the new rules.

“I think we’re going to see a lot of more English talent progress over the next few years.”

Clinton Morrison echoed Ashton's warning but tipped Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford - who this week collected the Championship Player of the Year award for his 19 goals with Middlesbrough  - to force his way into Jose Mourinho's plans.

“Just because you’ve signed that first professional contract, doesn’t mean you’ve made it," Morrison said..

“John Terry’s had a brilliant career but it’s one in a million; when you’re the cream of the crop like Chelsea you can buy who you want. Look at Patrick Bamford – he’s exceptional and he looks like a natural-born striker.

“Will he be given his chance at Chelsea? He deserves it and I think he would take it.”

Chelsea's 2014 squad: Bradley Collins, Isak Ssewankambo, Andreas Christensen, Jake Clarke-Salter, Ola Aina, Jordan Houghton, Charlie Colkett, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (c), Isaiah Brown, Dominic Solanke, Jay DaSilva, Kyle Scott, Ruben Sammut, Fankaty Dabo, Kasey Palmer, Charly Musonda.

Andreas Christensen (Denmark) - two appearances for Chelsea this season.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (England) - two appearances for Chelsea this season v Man City & Sporting Lisbon. Has represented England at U16/17/19 level.

Dominic Solanke (England) - one appearance for Chelsea this season v Maribor. Has represented England at U16/17/18.

Fulham's 2014 squad: Marek Rodak, Ryheem Sheckleford, Liam Donnelly (c), Cameron Burgess, Jordan Evans, Solomon Sambou, Joshua Smile, Patrick Roberts, Emerson Hyndman, George Williams, Moussa Dembele, Magnus Norman (GK), Aaron Redford, Noe Baba, Dean O'Halloran, Joshua Walker.

Cameron Burgess (Australia) - on loan at Ross County until the end of the season. Has made four appearances for Fulham this season.

Patrick Roberts (England) - 18 appearances for Fulham and has represented England U19s.

Emerson Hyndman (USA) - Nine appearances made for Fulham.

George Williams (Wales) - has played 14 times for Fulham and has one cap for Wales. Currently at MK Dons on loan for the second time.

Moussa Dembele (France) - 13 appearances for Fulham.