There are a few parallels that can be drawn between the early stage careers of John Terry and Michael Mancienne. The Chelsea and England captain has been discussing the new addition to the national squad.

Mancienne, like Terry, has been at Chelsea since schoolboy age; has played midfield and right-back before settling into a central defensive role; has impressed on-loan in the division below the top flight and has now progressed from England Under 21 international into the full squad.

Of course there is still a long, long way to go until the 20-year-old's achievements come close to Terry's. For a start he still has to earn his first selection into the Chelsea first team. But Terry has spoken positively about the young player's potential.

'Michael is very good,' Terry said on news of the latest England squad.

'We have a lot of good players at Chelsea but he has been eager to go out and prove he his good enough. Myself and Lampard have spoken to [England Under 21 coach] Stuart Pearce and he has said he is the best player in the U21s.'

Terry believes Mancienne's current spell at Championship leaders Wolves, where he has played four games, could have similar benefit to his own at Nottingham Forest in 2000 when he helped his loan club to six games undefeated and a rise out of relegation danger.

'We all gain from experience. You go out and you have to stand on your own two feet. If he can do it at Wolves, he has the chance to come back and do it at Chelsea.

'Wolves have had four wins since Michael has been there and he has a bright future ahead of him.

'I don't want to put pressure on him and he has not played any games for Chelsea yet but he has been eager to break into the squad. It is unfortunate for all the young players at Chelsea that we have such a big squad but he will get his chance I am sure.'

Mancienne, who spent two earlier seasons in the Championship at Queens Park Rangers, agrees with Terry's high valuation of loan experience.

'It is good to be involved at such a massive club [as Chelsea],' he said.

'I haven't really been there for two years because of loans. I grew as a footballer when I was on-loan and developed an understanding of the game. I've been in relegation battles and my experiences have improved me.'