Chelsea youngster Josh McEachran hopes to emulate the progress of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere

McEachran said: “We’ve got similar abilities but Jack’s a year or so ahead of me.”

McEachran revealed that there is already a bond, with the pair exchanging text messages of good luck before matches.

“I’m happy with the progress he’s been making. I always keep an eye on what he’s doing: Bolton (on loan), coming back to Arsenal and playing for England.

"Jack’s one of the best young players in the world, so he’s done really well. Hopefully I can do what he’s done, to be honest.”

His idol, as a child, was Zinedine Zidane while, more recently, he has drawn inspiration by working and training with Frank Lampard and watching Andres Iniesta. But McEachran is naturally linked to Wilshere.

At last, it appears, here are two young Englishmen with the technical ability to draw envious praise. Chelsea are wary of the hype. As are Arsenal with Wilshere.

But Chelsea’s assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo, an accomplished midfielder himself before his career was ended by injury, volunteered that there were similarities.

“I like Jack Wilshere as well, and he (McEachran) is of that level," said the Italian.

"Josh is an exceptional talent, and I'm very pleased to see such a talent coming through the club.

"It's been quite a long time since someone came through the academy as a potential first-team player. He has a very bright future, which is good for England as well.

"It all depends on him as he has all the ingredients. It depends if he keeps his head and goes in the right direction. Early indications show that he will.”

The pressure on McEachran to maintain that first-team breakthrough, made last year, is heightened because no player has established himself at Chelsea from the club’s academy since John Terry made his debut 13 years ago.

Chelsea are acutely aware of the growing attention, not least after manager Andre Villas-Boas hailed McEachran as “an amazing British talent” after an assured display earlier on this pre-season tour to Asia against a Thai All-Stars XI.

Di Matteo is unconcerned. "We live in a pressured world and football is pressure,” he added.

“He made a good number of appearances last season, but we shouldn't forget he's still very young and with that comes inexperience and other problems.

"But he's already shown he can deal with it and I have no concerns. There are other players of his ages playing first-team football.”

McEachran was spotted, aged eight, playing for Garden City Boys Club in the Oxford junior leagues and after joining Chelsea’s academy, was instrumental in the club’s strong performances in the FA Youth Cup in the past two seasons.

He also starred for the England Under-17 team that won the European Championships.

McEachran will start in final of the Asia Trophy, against Aston Villa, and after admitting that the “expectation” on him can be “quite hard” to deal with, he added: “Chelsea have kept me grounded-It’s my first proper pre-season in the club, and it’s been good to come to Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

"I just want to get more minutes this year, whether it’s out or loan or not.

"Obviously I’d love those to be at Chelsea. It’s not really up to me, but it’s up to Andre. If he thinks I’m ready to play for Chelsea, I’ll stay. If he thinks I need to go out on loan, I’ll do that.”

Villas-Boas has, yet, to decide that and it may depend on whether Chelsea add further to their squad before the transfer window closes.

There is also a debate as to what is the best position for McEachran, a natural left-footer with pin-point accuracy in his passing.

Villas-Boas’s predecessor Carlo Ancelotti, who pored over DVDs of McEachran and other young Chelsea players in his Milan home before he arrived at the club, regarded him as a holding player or a deep-lying playmaker.

Villas-Boas has other ideas. “I spoke to Josh regarding where he felt best on the pitch,” he explained. “The position No 6 (holding midfielder) is very important and he touches the ball more in that position.

"He likes to progress from that position, but he likes to face play, see attacking options, and it’s good to test him as a No 8 further forward. He can fulfil both positions, the No 10 position as well. Josh will be involved as a No 8 again, organising the game from that position.”

It is some responsibility but one that club and country hope he can handle.