Todd Kane has been named Chelsea’s Under-21 team captain for the 2012-13 season, according to the club’s official website.

The 18 year-old full-back was named as the man in possession of the armband in a piece published earlier this afternoon and follows him doing so away to Northampton Town last Saturday afternoon.

It’s a positive reward for a player who has made huge strides of progress in the past two seasons. He has played key roles in Premier Reserve League and FA Youth Cup successes and is a natural leader with an infectious character.

His nomination suggests that any ideas of loaning him out might be premature, as such roles tend to be assigned to those expected to spend a considerable portion of the season at the club, but in turn it raises talking points about the two players who regularly captained the squad last season.

Nathaniel Chalobah and Sam Hutchinson combined in the leadership role for most of the campaign and both spent the entireity of pre-season with the first team squad on tour in the United States.

Whether either makes a considerable step up to join Roberto Di Matteo’s first team squad on a regular basis remains to be seen, but Hutchinson, who will turn 23 this week, is ready to embark upon the next stage of his comeback and play a full professional schedule, either at Chelsea or elsewhere.

Chalobah remains considerably younger, not turning 18 until December, but having played above his age group for almost all of his career and spent two seasons at reserve team level, he’s ready to test himself against adult company.

Watford and Bristol City have been linked with his services for the coming season and he will certainly be in demand should Chelsea wish him to garner professional experience.