Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot believes Chelsea are just wasting money on their academy system if they don’t give their young starlets a chance to shine in the Blues’ senior team.

The London club have come under fire in recent years for often shipping their up-and-coming players out on loan instead of giving them a shot at the top level.

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A number of young players have left Stamford Bridge just this summer to join top teams – Tammy Abraham on loan to Swansea, Kurt Zouma on loan to Stoke, Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan at Crystal Palace, Nathaniel Chalobah SOLD to Watford, Nathan Ake SOLD to Bournemouth, Dominic Solanke SOLD to Liverpool, Christian Atsu SOLD to Newcastle and Bertrand Traore SOLD to Lyon.

Chelsea’s youth team have been a dominant force in England – winning the FA Youth Cup six times in the last eight years – yet, there are very few who are given a chance to prove themselves in the first team.

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Asked about Chelsea’s handling of their young stars, Melchiot told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “I’m a big fan of young players – I got my opportunity at Ajax when I was super young and was fortunate to have a coach like Louis van Gaal, he gave me that opportunity.

“It’s all great that the club is investing so much money on young talent, in their academy and their recent signings.

“If you look at Conte’s recruitment, he’s going for the guys who are aged 21-25 because those are the young players you can develop your own style into.

“But then I ask myself, when are the next young players going to break through into the team?

“If you look at Chelsea, the latest player I know that really had great success from a young age is John Terry. Who came after John Terry?

“I mean, they win every youth competition!

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not having a go at the club because I love Chelsea and I always will.

“But sometimes I do ask myself, when is the time going to come when it’s right to allow a young player to shine in the senior team? You’ve got to take the risk and you’ve got to have belief, because if not, all the investment you’re doing is not even worth it.

“Winning all of those youth cups and not playing any of your young stars, it makes it unnecessary. You might as well not do it.”