Chelsea are growing used to accusations that theirs is an ageing squad in urgent need of rejuvenation. The latest was delivered over the weekend by Sir Alex Ferguson, surveying the early days of the André Villas-Boas tenure from distant Chicago, so it felt strangely appropriate that the first hint of a riposte was promptly delivered on the other side of the world by a rising young talent in the London club's ranks.

Josh McEachran, at 18, had offered evidence last season that he could become this club's Jack Wilshere. His tidy passing impressed in cameos across the competitions, with the five-year contract signed on the eve of the team's Asian tour just reward for the progress he has made. Now integrated fully into the senior squad, and a starter again in the 4-0 defeat of a Thailand All Stars XI on Sunday, he offers constant glimpses of what awaits this team. Not all in their number are seasoned.

There was composure in possession and one neat reverse pass here that particularly caught the eye, liberating a rampaging Branislav Ivanovic to sprint into enemy territory and slide in Chelsea's third and most impressive goal. Villas-Boas described McEachran as "an amazing British talent for the future" in the aftermath, with his continued progress presumably a key part of bridging eras in the long-term reinvention of this team.

"Josh offers flexibility," said the manager. "I don't want to focus a lot on one player, but it's all in his brain. He anticipates problems and has that speed of thought, that kind of capacity to anticipate things." Wilshere boasts those same qualities at Arsenal. McEachran will still need to be physically stronger to thrive, but his raw talent is reassuring.

Ferguson had been assessing the challengers to Manchester United's title when he pinpointed Chelsea as "the most experienced team in the Premier League", praise he tempered by warning they are approaching an "evolutionary stage and the new manager hasn't signed anyone yet, so that will be a bit of a concern". But, although nine of the first-team squad are over 30, what progress Chelsea have made in the market has been in recruiting the next generation. Thibault Courtois, the goalkeeper signed from Genk, is 19, as is the midfielder Oriol Romeu, who is en route from Barcelona B. They also hope to add Romelu Lukaku, 18, from Anderlecht. Integrate these players into the first team over the next two seasons and that ageist accusation will seem less appropriate.

The United manager had said the same three years ago, when Luiz Felipe Scolari was settling into the manager's position at Stamford Bridge. That the senior personnel remain virtually identical is revealing. But, for now, Villas-Boas is unconcerned. His own policy, he claims, is "wise". The reality is that Chelsea remain no closer to securing their most lavish transfer target, Luka Modric. Should the impasse remain for much longer with Tottenham Hotspur, then Villas-Boas is likely to seek instead to return to his former club for his compatriot João Moutinho as a pedigree alternative.

There remains a lack of invention and speed in the pass to this midfield, with McEachran learning and the forward line – Fernando Torres chief among them – craving slicker service. The tempo will improve with fitness, but the thrashing of the Thailand All Stars, a concoction of players from the local Premier division hastily bundled together, revealed very little. Thrusting on eight substitutes just after the hour against the tiring home players gave the scoreline a gloss that the first-half performance had hardly merited. Their play was still stodgy at times. It said much that McEachran's poise and passing were what chiefly drew the focus.

The squad will continue their energy-sapping pre-season in Hong Kong as of Monday with the manager insistent the elder statesmen, upon whom he will still rely, will cope with the rigours ahead. "You just have to respect the recovery periods needed for those players who are older in the squad," said Villas-Boas.

"Chelsea are the second or third oldest team in the Premier League but, again, look at the trophies these players have won and how successful they have been. We are looking to find the correct balance between experience and youth, that is all. These players have a lot to offer."

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech (Hilário, h-t; Blackman, 77); Bosingwa (Ferreira, 62), Ivanovic (Chalobah, 77), Terry (Rajkovic, 62), Van Aanholt (Cole, 62); Lampard (Zhirkov, 62), Mikel (Clifford, 77), McEachran (Benayoun, 62); Anelka (Kalou, 62), Torres (Drogba, 62), Sturridge (Malouda, 62).