Chelsea legend John Terry has lavished praise on rising star Alfie Gilchrist, drawing comparisons between the young defender and his own playing style.
The former England international spoke highly of Gilchrist’s work ethic and attitude during training, revealing that he was “reminded of himself” when watching the 20-year-old in action.
Gilchrist, who is currently on loan at Sheffield United from Chelsea, joined the Premier League club at the age of 11 and made his senior debut for the Blues last December, coming off the bench in a match against Crystal Palace.
Terry, who captained Chelsea for much of his illustrious career, told the Daily Mail that Gilchrist’s dedication and eagerness to learn immediately caught his attention.
“Literally from the first training session in which I saw him, he reminded me of myself,” Terry said.
“He was keen to learn, asking me questions about defending and constantly picking my brains over what I would do in different situations.”
The 43-year-old also praised Gilchrist’s professionalism and commitment to improving every aspect of his game.
“He is 100 per cent in everything he does,” Terry continued.
“Whether that is the warm-up to get him going, he is all-in. You don’t ever want to take that away. Even on his recovery days, he is 100 miles per hour.”