No kidding, Cole explains why Chelsea field established stars in the Carling Cup

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But as they try to take a step towards the final of the competition the other top teams use to blood their kids in tonight, the director of youth development's target has slipped back to 2010.

Why the Dane's ambitious deadline passed unfulfilled remains a matter of debate inside Stamford Bridge, as it becomes abundantly clear to young prospects that breaking through at Chelsea is anything but child's play.

The kids aren't all right: Joe Cole says Chelsea's refusal to give up on any chance of glory means they will always field their top guns

Manager Avram Grant will pick a side packed with internationals for the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg against Everton and show again how seriously he takes the competition despite a lengthy list of injuries and absences.

In contrast, Arsenal take a markedly different approach by putting out their young guns, while Manchester United and Liverpool are similarly minded.

Joe Cole said: "A lot of clubs tend to play the younger players but we have people sitting on the bench who are top-class internationals so in this tournament we are always strong.

"It's important to win trophies because it gives you the feeling of being a winner. To do that in February gives you a lift and a lot of other clubs overlook that."

Scott Sinclair and Ben Sahar are the closest Grant has to players achieving the sort of progress made by Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson at Arsenal, but the comparison is flimsy.

Sinclair has played in each of the previous Carling Cup ties on the way to the last four, yet in a total of six appearances this season he has spent only 14 minutes playing in the Premier League. Sahar, meanwhile, has been on loan at QPR for most of the campaign.

Cole said: "They are quality young strikers who can come in. Since I've been at Chelsea the young players haven't had much of a chance but this month those players will help out and show what they can do."

With Grant's squad relatively threadbare, any further setbacks should improve the chances of the youngsters but the club's pursuit of Bolton's Nicolas Anelka tells a different story.

The striker is likely to be signed for £15 million and when Didier Drogba returns from the African Nations' Cup next month, the opportunities for other attacking players will be further restricted.

In other positions, the immediate prospects of promotion are also slim.

Arnesen said: "Patience is important for the philosophy of the club. We will give them time to develop because young players make mistakes and have to learn from them."

His change in tone may be the result of leaving behind the glare that came with his controversial move from Spurs, when he had to justify the £5m Chelsea paid in compensation to get him.

But he remains ambitious and the target after 2010 is to produce a player to the first-team from the academy every year.

The structure, at least, is there now to give Arnesen a chance to deliver what owner Roman Abramovich wants.

Dedicated facilities at the club's Cobham training ground will be complete next summer and under Arnesen's other role as chief scout, they have hoovered up much of Europe's best young talent in the last two years.

Despite previous manager Jose Mourinho's complaints about the lack of emerging talent at Chelsea, five young players made their first-team debuts last season. One of them, Michael Woods, played when he was just 16.

Arnesen said: "It is only a debut and the next step is how we can get players into the squad."

Chelsea are often thought to have an academy filled with foreign voices, but they have 16 players representing England from Under-21 level down.

There are 18 internationally-recognised players from other countries in their youth teams and the split is better than some of their Premier League rivals.

Cole believes that approach is important and reflects the character of Chelsea, adding: "The English spirit has really helped Chelsea over the years, though we've also been helped by the foreign lads, too."