Footage emerges of John Terry hailing Alfie Gilchrist as Chelsea's next big star from the academy earlier this season... after defender scored first goal for the club against Everton

John Terry's effusive praise of Alfie Gilchrist and insistence that he will become the next star to come out of the Chelsea academy has resurfaced online after the 20-year-old's maiden goal for the Blues. 

In December, the former Chelsea captain said that he expects 'big things' from the youngster in the near future.

'He's a really really good player.' Terry told supporters at a Q&A. 'He's got an unbelievable attitude. He's been at the club since the age of eight.'

The Blues legend went on to say that he hoped the defender would make one or two appearances this season, but Gilchrist had already surpassed those expectations even before scoring his first goal for his boyhood club in the 6-0 demolition of Everton.

Stamford Bridge was already bouncing after Cole Palmer 's first-half hat-trick set them on their way to a dominant victory, before three more goals were fired in during the second 45 minutes.

Gilchrist dispatched his effort coolly into the bottom corner past a helpless Jordan Pickford and ran off celebrating wildly before being mobbed by his Chelsea team-mates.

Chants of 'he's one of our own' boomed around Stamford Bridge as Mauricio Pochettino's side wrapped up their most impressive performance of what has been a difficult season.

The Chelsea academy has become renowned for producing players who have gone on to have an impact on the first team in recent years. 

The likes of Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi are just some academy players who have impacted not just Chelsea but other clubs in the Premier League and Europe.  

The Blues' heavy win lifted them into ninth place in the Premier League and reignited aspirations of European qualification. Pochettino's side are only three points behind Newcastle in sixth, with a game in hand.