Chelsea vs Sporting Lisbon: Teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek to play in Champions League

Mourinho will play a number of fringe players with Chelsea already qualified

Loftus-Cheek impressed against Manchester City's first-team in the post-season tour of the US in May 2013 (Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho has caused a major surprise by announcing that he will hand a debut to Chelsea rookie Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old has been progressing through the academy for a decade and is now being given an opportunity to impress the Special One.

Chelsea have already reached the last-16 as winners of Group G and Mourinho sees it as an ideal moment to see what the midfielder can do.

He said: "I don't know if he will start, but he will play. One month ago he played in Lisbon in (Under-19 Champions League) so you can imagine the difference between facing the Sporting academy in front of 1,000 fans and to play against Sporting in real Champions League at Stamford Bridge with 45,000 fans and all the lights on him.

"To be here since he was eight and to have a chance to play in Chelsea's first game is every kid's dream.

"He didn't start pre-season training with me, but the way he's training with us every time he comes across gives me guarantee of his quality and his ambition.

"I'm so happy to give the kid a chance, especially when I feel they can do well and have a career at Chelsea.

"He is an English player, 18, completely made in Chelsea and if he succeeds it's good."

Loftus-Cheek lifts the FA Youth Cup (GETTY IMAGES)

Loftus-Cheek added: "It's amazing for me. I have been with the team since eight so it's great for me.

"We are very aware of that (John Terry being last academy product to be regular in first team). It's a good squad, but we have some good talent coming through.

"It's not easy to come through with squad ahead of us, but you can't be negative otherwise you won't get anywhere near."