Chelsea’s coaches ‘could not envisage’ the alarming progression of prolific youngster Tammy Abraham

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The lack of young players making the step up to the senior team at Stamford Bridge has caused concern, but Tammy Abraham offers hope.

The rapid development of young Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham on loan at Bristol City has caught the coaches at Stamford Bridge by surprise, Under-23 manager Adi Viveash has told The Sun.

The rangy forward made a number of appearances off the bench under Guus Hiddink in the latter stages of last season but was added to Chelsea’s legion of loaned-out starlets in the summer, joining Bristol City on a temporary deal in order to provide him with regular game time away from the spotlight.

And Abraham has responded in style, netting nine goals in 15 Championship starts to fire The Robins into the top half of the table and spark speculation that he could be the first player to rise from Chelsea’s academy to the first team since John Terry all the way back in 1998.

The 6ft 2ins frontman has demonstrated a penchant for poaching at Ashton Gate, his instinctive reactions inside the six yard box making him the second highest scorer in the division behind Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle, and Viveash says he has developed beyond all expectations in just a few short months.

“You could not envisage Tammy hitting the ground running like he has,” Viveash told The Sun. “But what Tammy has is a massive enthusiasm for the game. He just loves playing football and he loves scoring goals.

“You can see that by the goals he scores – though we have reminded him that most of them are tap ins, but that does not really matter.

“He is a top kid, he is a very nice kid Tammy, and he will be learning a lot about Championship defenders.”

Viveash admits he has no idea where Abraham will be plying his trade next season, but Chelsea fans will be hoping one of their own is finally given an opportunity to prove his worth in front of the adoring Stamford Bridge terraces.

However, the England Under-21 international can take some solace in knowing that Antonio Conte is keeping a close eye on his progression.

The Italian included Abraham on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA, and revealed after Chelsea’s EFL Cup defeat to West Ham last month that the 19-year-old was showing “great potential,” The Sun reports.