Nemanja Matic completed his suspension at West Ham in midweek and Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be watching him particularly closely in next week’s Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

Matic saw red in a recent home fixture with Burnley and was initially served with a three-match ban, after shoving Burnley player Ashley Barnes in reaction to being struck in the shin during the draw with the Clarets.

Matic will return to the scene of the crime on Wednesday night when PSG come to Stamford Bridge as the Blues go into the game with the advantage of Branislav Ivanovic’s away goal in the first leg at Parc des Princes.

Listener: Chelsea's Ruben Loftus Cheek speaks to manager Jose Mourinho

Loftus-Cheek, an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over West Ham , is a rising star in west London and regarded as one of the crown jewels of Chelsea’s youth academy, having made his debut in the competition as a substitute in a 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in December.

His tall frame, combined with his ability to dominate matches from the middle of the park, means 19-year-old powerhouse Loftus-Cheek is stereotypically identified as something of a Matic clone.

There are differences between the two though and the Serbian international tends to adopt more of a shielding role, patrolling the area in front of the back-four and breaking up play, while Loftus-Cheek favours a more attacking approach.

Loftus-Cheek has been pleased with the progress he has made this term, but believes his defensive duties need to be improved if he is to become a complete player like his older counterpart.

He said: “We’re both tall players and central midfielders. I can see why there would be comparisons there. I try to watch Nemanja defensively because I don’t think there’s anyone better than him in that role as a defensive midfielder and that’s what I think I need to improve on.

“I watch him and try to pick up things. I do like attacking more, but I enjoy defending as well. I like both parts of the game.

On the ball: Chelsea's Ruben Loftus Cheek in action

“I’ve worked hard to get rewards [this season] and it feels great so I’m going to continue with that and try to push on. My body has got stronger, so I’m able to cope with training with the first-team more and training with them has improved my technique. Watching those players train, when I came over to them as an academy player makes me want to kick on.”

Loftus-Cheek has been with Chelsea since joining the club’s U8s more than a decade ago and led the club, as captain, to the success in the FA Youth Cup and starred in the UEFA Youth League before turning out for the first-team.

Jose Mourinho added: “I had Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the bench and I have to say that, in my opinion, next year, this kid will be a big surprise in the Premier League.

Facing the media: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Ruben Loftus Cheek

“This season, if I was not playing for the title and if we were not playing with the pressure we have when you are playing for the title, this kid would already be on the pitch.

“But it's step-by-step and today was again a day for (Kurt) Zouma to help John (Terry) and (Gary) Cahill in a game when (Diafra) Sakho and (Enner) Valencia are very difficult opponents.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea may have had an eight point lead whittled away by challengers Manchester City earlier in the season, but it won't be happening again according to Blues defender Ivanovic.