Dominic Solanke could be handed a baptism of fire this weekend, with the Chelsea teenager in line for a first Premier League appearance against Arsenal.
Here, football reporter Simon Peach picks out 10 facts about the highly-rated 17-year-old attacker.
1. Solanke has been with Chelsea from Under-8s and scored a hatful of goals throughout the age groups.
2. The Reading-born forward has represented England at Under-16, U17 and U18 levels.
3. Solanke was a key part of the England side that won the Under-17 European Championship in Malta last summer, finishing joint top of the scoring charts with four goals.
4. The morning after scoring in the final against Holland, the forward had to take a GCSE exam in English Literature.
5. Solanke signed a first-year professional contract with Chelsea in September 2014.
Pleased to say I have signed my first Professional Contract with Chelsea Football Club💙. #CFC pic.twitter.com/FmZkjZljAA
— Dom Solanke (@DomSolanke) September 15, 2014
6. Solanke was the top scorer in the inaugural Uefa Youth League, netting 12 times in nine matches – including the final, which Chelsea won 3-2 against Shakhtar Donetsk.
7. He made his Chelsea debut as a second-half substitute in the 6-0 defeat of Maribor in the Champions League in October, becoming the club’s youngest player to participate in the competition.
8. The forward scored the winner in Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup final triumph last season and on Monday netted in the first leg of this year’s final against Manchester City.
9. Solanke’s achievements were recognised when he was named England Youth Player of the Year for 2014 – an award he collected in March, before training with Roy Hodgson’s England side.
âš½ï¸â¤ï¸. pic.twitter.com/puK1iceSOm
— Dom Solanke (@DomSolanke) March 30, 2015
10. The Chelsea forward was named by Uefa as one of its stars of 2014.
Source: SNAPPA
