Sahar so good: young Ben bears burden of national expectation

Such is Ben Sahar's promise that they have even proposed to name a law after him. "Sahar's Bill" has been debated in Israel's parliament as a means to allow high-achieving sportsmen to avoid the three years of military service that is obligatory come their 18th birthday.

Sahar is still almost six months short of that mark, and understandably dodges any questions on the issue, but knows he has come a long way very quickly. The latest stop on that journey comes on Saturday when he will be in Tel Aviv to face England as a full international.

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To put it even more starkly, last Tuesday evening the raw, broad-shouldered striker was lining up at Bishop's Stortford FC for Chelsea reserves against West Ham reserves. The next morning he was named in Israel's full squad, having last month become the youngest player to represent his nation, for the vital European Championship qualification tie. Sahar was left wondering if he would face his club captain, John Terry.

It's a fast pace. "Sometimes I feel it's all too fast," Sahar admits as he sits at Chelsea's training ground contemplating the past year. "But the chances have come up and I like it. If you play for the first team at Chelsea then of course you like it. Then it doesn't feel too fast. But I have to control it and remember that I'm still young and have a lot to improve on."

Sahar signed for Chelsea only last May. He had arrived at Stamford Bridge two months earlier for a trial having been spotted playing for the Israeli Under-17 side against the Republic of Ireland. "I scored two goals," Sahar recalls. "A scout had come to watch." A fee of around £350,000 was agreed with Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Sahar became the latest - and considering the millions lavished on other recruits - just about the cheapest addition to the Chelsea stable.

He did not arrive on his own. Sahar, whose passage was eased because he also holds a Polish passport through his grandfather's country of origin, comes from a tight-knit family. He grew up in Modeen, a new town close to Tel Aviv, with his father Batia, who worked in electronics, mother Miki, older brother Yaniv, who is now 31, and 15-year-old sister Mor. His parents now take turns to spend time with him but, soon, the whole family will move to England. A home has already been purchased.

Putting down such roots helps. As does remaining grounded. "It's me," Sahar says when asked who keeps him level-headed. "I know that I have come from Israel and that I was to be in the youth team. OK, now I'm in the Israel first-team squad and I have to show that I deserve to be here."

Joining Chelsea was also a sign of his confidence. The route to the first team at the Premiership champions - with Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and so on ahead of him - appears a little more daunting. "I always thought this was the right club," Sahar replies. "And it is the best club in the world for developing young players. When you play with these experienced players, it can only make you better. I always thought it was the best thing to do and I've already had a chance. I've made three first-team appearances."

A debut came in January as a substitute in the FA Cup tie against Macclesfield. "Simply amazing," Sahar says. It was also simply amazing to have a pep talk from Jose Mourinho beforehand. What did the manager say? "He told me not to be afraid and that he had every confidence in me," Sahar says. "He told me just to show what I can do. I was nervous but it helped."

That came at the height of Chelsea's injury crisis and with Mourinho bemoaning the lack of young talent coming through at the club. Sahar, it seemed, was the exception to his scorn and, on Friday, Mourinho added that he expected the striker to be part of the first-team squad permanently next season. "If he can play against England, at this high level, it is magnificent," he added.

There were further words of encouragement in the dressing room. "I thought 'they are big players, they won't talk to me' but they did. They told me what to do, what movements to make," Sahar says. He didn't feel pressure. After all, what can be expected of him yet at Chelsea?

It is different with Israel. He is not regarded as a young player there. He is seen as a Chelsea player and, as one of only four in the Premiership - with the Bolton Wanderers pair of Talal Ben Haim and Idan Tal, and West Ham's Yossi Benayoun - he is expected to deliver to a demanding public and media.

"In Israel everyone knows me and expects that I will play well," Sahar says. "There's more pressure because I'm coming from Chelsea. But again I have to try and control this with my attitude and focus and keep everything else on the outside."

It is proving difficult. Expectation levels have risen as the national team have improved. Israel, who have not qualified for a major tournament since the 1970 World Cup but whose Under-21 team, aided by Sahar's goals, have just reached the finals of the European Championship, are no pushovers. "We've improved a lot," Sahar says. "In the last campaign [World Cup qualification] we didn't lose a game. Hopefully things will continue to get better. It would be amazing to do well against England."

Defeat for England, however, is inconceivable. But Group E is proving a struggle and they lie equal on points with Israel. Is Sahar surprised? "I'm no coach," he says of England's travails. "But there are big, big players in the Premiership so we know it will be tough. There's a lot of interest in it and it's an important game for us too. We want to move to the next level. We've played well before but still we haven't quite made it. But England against Israel is a big game."

It helps Israel's chances that they are playing their home games back at home. "We were in Cyprus for a while but now we are back," Sahar says. "And there will be 40,000 in the Ramat Gan [stadium]." Should England be worried? "I don't know," Sahar adds. "We'll see." He is equally cautious about his prospects of starting the game but, in Israel, there is a growing campaign for his inclusion, especially as he acknowledges that "I'm strong. I'm suited for English football and that's why I came here. The speed also. I'm quick". He has to be to keep up with his career.