Playing in the same position as your club captain - who also just happens to skipper his country - would normally make it impossible for a young professional to make a breakthrough.

That is the obstacle that has faced Michael Mancienne for the past three years after signing his first professional contract for Chelsea.

John Terry's shadow has loomed large as Mancienne has tried and failed to make his first-team debut at Stamford Bridge.

There are many similarities between the pair. Both have come through the youth ranks at the club - Mancienne was spotted aged eight playing for Kingstonian Colts; Terry signed on at 14 after excelling for the Senrab boys team.

Both have had to go out on loan to gain first-team experience - Mancienne at Queens Park Rangers and now at Wolves; Terry at Nottingham Forest.

But Mancienne now has one over Terry. The Chelsea captain had to wait until he was 22 to be called up by England for the first time against Liechtenstein in 2003 - Mancienne has done it two years quicker after his shock selection to face Germany this week by coach Fabio Capello.

The 20-year-old's chances of playing may increase further if, as expected, Terry pulls out of the squad with a foot injury today.

Yet, Mancienne is keen to stress that, even though Terry has had a huge influence on his career, he does not see himself as a direct replacement.

He said: "I have played with John Terry before in training at Chelsea and our games compliment each other because I'm a different kind of defender.

"I model myself more on Ricardo Carvalho and Rio Ferdinand because of the way I play. My tackles are all about timing and I like to get my foot on the ball.

"The game has just come naturally to me, I used to play in midfield so when I went to the back I had a lot of confidence.

"John is captain of the full national side and is someone I look up to. He plays a big part in my belief that I can make it in the game because he made the breakthrough.

"He started out at Chelsea having to compete with Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly who had won the World Cup with France and look where he is now."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has compared Mancienne to the great Franz Beckenbauer in his style of play.

Stuart Pearce has also been suitably impressed during the eight caps the defender has won for the England Under-21s. Pearce has had a big say in Mancienne's call-up and is sure to tell Capello that the youngster can handle the biggest stage. International football already runs in his family, although not quite to the level of Wednesday's friendly between two of the biggest football nations in the world.

Mancienne's dad, also called Michael, played for the Seychelles before the family moved to England in 1985.

His mum Teresa and sister Charlotte also play big part's in Mancienne junior's life.

Jose Mourinho also made a big impression on him and handed the defender his first pro-contract in 2005.

Mancienne has been on the bench four times for the Chelsea senior team and whatever else happens over the next few days, Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari must surely take notice of the first player to be called up by England without playing for the first XI since Theo Walcott in 2006.

It was only a few weeks ago that Mancienne admitted that he may have to leave Chelsea for the good of his career, but his England recognition has been given him renewed hope that he can make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

He added: "I was on the subs' bench for Chelsea a few times, but I haven't played a first-team game for them yet. Long term I would like to go back there, because I have been with the club since I was eight.

"But I am at Wolves until the end of December and I don't know if the loan deal will be extended.

"I would like to think that one day I can play regular Premier League football, but being at Wolves is a great stepping stone. The move to Wolves, the fact they like to play good football and are top of the Championship, has definitely helped me get selected for England."

Terry may be standing in his way, yet he has no doubt that the four matches Mancienne has played in the Wolves first team this season will stand him in good stead.

Terry said: "Me and Frank Lampard both spoke to Stuart Pearce and he told us that Michael has been his best player in the Under-21s. It's great for young lads to be given the experience. We all gain from that.

"Michael has been very good and fair play to him, we have a lot of players at Chelsea and he has been eager to go out on loan and prove that he is good enough.

"Apparently his form has been fantastic for Wolves. They have had four wins since he has been there and he has a bright future ahead of him.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on the lad because he still hasn't played any games for Chelsea.

"But I benefited from going out on loan earlier in my career. You have to stand on your own two feet.

"He is living up there on his own, but he just wants to get on with it and play football regularly. If he can do that at Wolves and at other big clubs, he could have the chance to do it at Chelsea."