Chelsea: 10 British Youngsters Who Deserve Their Chance At Stamford Bridge

2. Islam Feruz (ST)

If you were wondering why this article is about British, rather than English, talent, Islam Feruz is the reason. After relocating with his family from Yemen to Glasgow as a boy, he was snapped up by Celtic and accelerated through the youth ranks until Chelsea came calling in 2011. It's not difficult to see why: despite his diminutive 5'5 frame, he's got a poacher's eye for goal and a burst of pace allowing him to whip through defences with precisely timed runs. He can play on the wing, cutting inside in the style of an Eden Hazard or Arjen Robben, but his best position is undoubtedly up front, where his speed allows him to drag defenders around with impunity and take advantage of more creative players behind him. It's safe to say that Scotland hasn't had anyone as mercurial as him in contention for their national team for quite some time. Big things are expected for him at the club, for whom he made his first appearance in a friendly against Malaysia last summer. Unfortunately, while some might say his height could prove an impediment to making a breakthrough, his abrasive attitude has seen him involved in a number of ugly incidents and is already threatening to tar an enormously promising career. Last year he issued an obscenity-filled tweet denying Celtic had helped his family avoid deportation back to their native Somalia, leading to his former club's fans and management accusing him of disrespect (re-opening wounds following his acrimonious departure to Chelsea for what Celtic believed was a severely reduced fee), before being 'encouraged' to shut down his Twitter account by Chelsea after stating his intention to play in the African Nations' Cup despite already turning out for Scotland's U17s. Scotland's Daily Record, never shy of reporting the youngster's indiscretions, recently revealed that the player has appeared at a pre-trial hearing in Glasgow on charges of dangerous driving. Let's hope Chelsea's management team can help Feruz mature into a more considerate, conscientious individual, because it would be a tragedy were such a huge talent to go to waste.