The initiative recognises homegrown players and the journey they have undertaken to reach the milestone of their first team debut, which 20-year-old Mount did against Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season. Mount joined Chelsea as an Under-9, and after successful loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Derby, has emerged as a regular under Frank Lampard this season. He has started our next three league games as well, scoring twice including on his home debut against Leicester.

Lampard was on hand to give Mount the commemorative ball last week on behalf of the Premier League, and the young midfielder explained how it felt to put on the blue shirt for the first time in a competitive game.

‘It’s a massive achievement and it means so much to me,’ Mount said.

‘As a young kid the goal is to play in the Premier League, and for me to play for Chelsea.

‘On the day I was just focusing on the game and looking to perform. I wasn’t really worrying too much that it was my debut. It was a massive game at Old Trafford, it didn’t go our way, but looking back it didn’t feel like a 4-0 loss.

‘It’s been a long journey, many ups and many downs,’ reflected Mount.

‘You learn a lot. I’ve learned a lot from the last two years being out on loan, gaining that experience and then coming back and working hard to get into the team.’

Having done just that, Mount opened his Chelsea account with a fine finish against Leicester at the Bridge, and he sees that goal as a culmination of the collective work put in to advance his development over the last decade or so.

‘It was a special, special moment for me, but for the Academy as well - all the coaches I have worked with throughout the years, so many I could name, I would say that goal was for them.

‘I’m very happy with the way I’ve started. Hopefully the goals will keep coming and I can add assists to my game as well. It’s a young team, we’re ready to go, we’re fighting in every game, and there is so much passion in the team to want to win and to perform in the Chelsea shirt.’

Mount will now be hoping to make his England debut in the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifying matches. The Three Lions play Bulgaria on Saturday and Kovoso on Tuesday.