The Blues veteran is backing Clarke-Salter for a bright future
Chelsea defender John Terry is backing Jake Clarke-Salter to take his place in the Chelsea defence, having made his debut against Aston Villa.
The 18-year-old came on at Villa Park with 16 minutes remaining, as the Blues comprehensively beat Villa 4-0, and Terry is backing the England under-19 to take his position, with the 35-year-old set to leave the Bridge at the end of the season.
Terry admitted in January that he would be leaving the club, as a new deal wasn’t offered to the former England international, and is being tipped for a move to China.
And now he is hoping Clarke-Salter becomes a mainstay in the Blues defence, and said: “He is doing great and I hope he goes on to take my position and get in the first team.
“It was great for him to make his debut. I was disappointed I wasn’t there to support him because I missed the game [through injury]. But watching it from home, I was delighted.”
New contract
Clarke-Salter was handed a new four-year contract in November, with the Blues having high hopes for the defender, who spent a period of his youth career with Sutton United.
And the 18-year-old has hopes to become just the fifth player to win the FA Youth Cup three times, when the Blues face Manchester City over two legs, later this month.
Terry was the last Chelsea academy graduate to become a mainstay in the Blues team – enjoying a glamorous career – but now hopes the baton will be passed on to the young Englishman, rather than to a foreign signing.
