As full debuts go, a Man of the Match nomination and a clean sheet is as good as it can get for a centre-half.

That is exactly what 20-year-old Sam Hutchinson will have awoken to this morning, hours after making his first start for the club he has been at since childhood.

By his own admission, it was long overdue, but that was no fault of his own after a two-year spell spent battling chronic knee injury problems.

Back in August, 'Hutch' admitted he had been just days away from giving up on his football career during a frustrating spring, but after deciding to give it a final go, his persistence has paid off with a successful US Tour and a place in Carlo Ancelotti's thoughts.

Chelsea fc.com caught up with the defender following Wednesday's 1-0 win over QPR at Stamford Bridge. Sat in Cobham's canteen, he is in a relaxed and chatty mood, happy to answer any questions as he leans back into one of the large luxurious sofas that flank one side of the room.

'It was a great night and a great experience in front of Stamford Bridge, so it was really good,' he smiles. 'It couldn't have gone much better, I thought I did alright, we picked up a clean sheet and are through to the next round, which is the most important thing for the club.

'I just went out and played my own game. I was confident and didn't really have any nerves. Hopefully I proved to most people what I can do on the pitch.'

He certainly did, putting in a commanding performance, also full of talking, despite playing in a back four that contained a Russian, a Serb and a Portuguese.

'It was fine because Branny [Ivanovic] does understand a lot of English and is an experienced player, and he can also speak to Yury [Zhirkov], so they all helped me out and I tried to help people out by speaking a lot,' he explains.

'That is my game, and I won't change that, it doesn't bother me to speak to people and it helps me concentrate even more. It's the person I am. I have a big mouth so I use it!'

Such images of a young English defender hollering at his Chelsea team-mates immediately prompt thoughts of a certain John Terry, but Hutchinson is quick to play down any terrace comparisons so early in his own career.

'Anyone who comes through the Academy here, and is English in particular, is a bit special for the fans. Obviously JT is a world-class defender but I am still trying to make my trade. Obviously you can take bits from JT because he is so good, as is Riccy Carvalho and Ivanovic as well, and every bit of experience I get around them will help me and I can take a lot from everyone,' he confirms.

'I do feel a part of the squad now but I want more games under my belt. I never feel out of place, I am comfortable training with the first team players. They do have an aura within the club but I treat them no differently and nobody acts differently. Everyone treats me with respect and that's good.'

Like the last English defender to make his Chelsea debut, Michael Mancienne, Hutchinson is versatile, feeling equally at home on the right or in the centre of defence, while in the USA, both this summer with Ancelotti and two years ago with José Mourinho, he played plenty of minutes at left-back without looking out of place.

In the summer he admitted privately that as a right-footed player the left side wasn't his favourite, and the right was where he considered home. Has that changed?

'In pre-season I felt like a full-back because that's where I was training and playing, but when you train in a position you get used to it so I am getting used to centre-half again, but I honestly don't care where I play,' he shrugs.

'As long as I am playing, I will play anywhere. At the moment I will pick centre-half as my favourite because I am playing there, but I do really enjoy right-back, so either or.'

Unlike many footballers, Hutchinson has always been a defender, not one of those who begins as a striker or midfielder and works their way back.

At Chelsea since childhood, he has always played at the back, and that may have something to do with his dad, Eddie, who nearly made it as a defender himself.

'I was scouted very young, so since I was about seven I played for Chelsea. Last night was a long time coming, so it was very exciting for my family and I had a load of tickets and got everyone down. It was good for my mum, dad, two sisters and girlfriend. They have all been through it with me, and it was great for everyone.

'My dad played in the youth side at Chelsea, Gwyn Williams released him, and he played under George Graham in the youth team at QPR. He then played non-league, and he has been great for me.

'I don't think I would be a footballer without him because of his guidance. He has done it a bit, and really guided me, taking me everywhere to games and I owe an also lot to them too. Dad was a centre-half too, so a bit similar to me.'

Another with a likeness to Hutchinson's game is 17-year-old defender Jeffrey Bruma, already a Dutch Under 21 international, and now with the experience of being around the first team squad, though as yet only as an unused sub.

Hutch sees great potential in Bruma, and others coming out of the Chelsea Academy, including Fabio Borini who also made his full first team debut against QPR.

'It's great for Fab, he is a top lad and I think a few more will be making debuts soon, like Jeffrey. He is still young, 17, and I was saying to him I made my debut at 17, and I was hoping he would get on, because he is a great talent as well, but he has plenty of time for that.'

For now though, Hutchinson is the one in the limelight, but he is a young man with his feet firmly on the ground.

If he can stay injury free, there is little reason why he can't emulate namesake and Chelsea legend Ian Hutchinson, and go on to be a fans' favourite at the Bridge.

By Andy Jones