Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has hinted that he may hand his "young eggs" a chance to shine in the first-team after a difficult start to their defence of the Premier League title.
Mourinho's team have begun the season with just four points from their opening four games after Crystal Palace's 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and are already eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
And, in a bid to turn the Blues around, Mourinho suggested that a dip in form from some of his senior players could open the door for the likes of defender Kurt Zouma, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Brazilian midfielder Kenedy to be handed more first-team chances.
"I have beautiful young eggs in Kenedy, in Ruben and in Zouma," Mourinho told the Chelsea website. "If you look at the game, all of these young eggs did well. Zouma -- great personality, great game [against Palace]; Kenedy changed the game and gave a different intensity and a different quality; Ruben was fine too.
"This is about the young players working and coming in and using the opportunities they have to improve and show their qualities.
"I'm not saying they are ready and they can be consistent and play every game. I am saying these young guys have good talent. Zouma with the experience of the last season has reached a fantastic level for a 20-year-old. Kenedy and Ruben, these kinds of boys, are players with very good talent."
Mourinho has previously said that he is keen to give youth a chance at Chelsea, with the West London club failing to produce a first-team regular from their academy since club skipper John Terry back in 1998.