John Terry makes exciting Chelsea prediction with approval given

Former Chelsea captain John Terry has insisted that supporters will love Leo Castledine following his first-team debut in the Blues' Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg win over Middlesbrough.

Castledine, 18, came off the bench and replaced Raheem Sterling in the 85th minute on Tuesday to become the latest graduate from the club's Cobham academy.

The youngster played in Mauricio Pochettino's midfield to see out the second leg clash and has earned plaudits from Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah on social media. Castledine has impressed with the Under-21s this term, contributing to ten goals in as many games in Premier League 2, earning him a place in the senior team.

He joins the likes of Michael Golding and Alfie Gilchrist to make their first team debuts under Pochettino this season. Goalkeeper Ted Curd was also named on the bench for the first time after being recalled from his loan spell at Hashtag United.

Talk of Castledine following in the steps of Frank Lampard in Chelsea's midfield has left supporters excited about what's to come from the Kingston upon Thames native. The midfielder has received backing from one of the club's greatest ever players after his debut.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the ex-Blues captain wrote: «Congratulations Leo. Love him and so will the Chelsea fans, he is like a magnet in the box *blue heart emoji* *football emoji*.»

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Terry currently works with Mark Robinson's Under-21s after returning to the club from his brief stint with Leicester City. Castledine has obviously impressed the former central defender this season