Xabi Alonso believes understudy goalkeeper Mike Penders is ready for an extended spell in Chelsea's team after consulting on the 21-year-old with Thibaut Courtois.
Penders became the club's youngest Premier League keeper when he replaced the injured Emiliano MartÃnez during the second half of last weekend's 2-0 win away at Everton, and will make his full league debut at home to Tottenham on Saturday.
MartÃnez, who joined from Aston Villa for £7 million ($9m) in August, has had surgery on a fractured jaw and is set to miss several weeks.
It means an earlier than expected opening in the team for Penders. He is considered internally to be the long-term No. 1 at Stamford Bridge and impressed in his first two starts for the club this season, Carabao Cup wins over Luton and Leeds.
Alonso was asked about similarities between the Belgium Under-21 international and his compatriot Courtois, with whom the Chelsea manager worked last season at Real Madrid.
"[There are] a lot, not just for the nationality," he said. "For the stature, both left-footed, both dominant in the air. I spoke with Thibaut when he was at the World Cup, I asked him about Mike. He said himself he could see resemblance.
"We need to help him, support him. He's a keeper for the present and for the future."
The two goalkeepers have followed a similar path. Both came through the ranks at Belgian side Genk before moving to Stamford Bridge while still relatively unknown outside their home country.
Courtois established himself in senior football during three years on loan at Atlético Madrid between 2011 and 2014, winning the LaLiga title and reaching the Champions League final before returning to west London to replace Petr Cech in Chelsea's goal.
Penders was loaned to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club, last season where he made 50 appearances in all competitions.
"He's ready," said Alonso. "He's been training well, he's played a couple of cup games, he's shown he has a good level.
"When he came on against Everton, he showed his personality, his qualities. We are fully convinced that Mike can play very well."
Chelsea opted to bring in MartÃnez to replace the error-prone Robert Sánchez, who performed poorly in Alonso's first game in charge, a 3-2 win over Fulham.
It is expected that Penders will eventually succeed the 34-year-old as the team's No. 1.
"We wanted to have the best possible options," said Alonso. "We decided that we would go for Emi and I think we have a good balance.
"Mike is a keeper for now and for the future. Having the support, learning with such an experienced goalkeeper as Emi, it's having a great impact on Mike."
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Alonso was unable to say how long MartÃnez will be out.
"Few weeks, hopefully less than more," he said. "The good thing is he's feeling better. We need to listen to his feelings, the opinions of the doctors and specialists. Considering that it was a bad one, he's doing good."
