LONDON -- Carlton Cole has emerged as the young homegrown talent who could steal the thunder of Chelsea's stellar foreign legion.

Cole, 18, has worked his way through the junior and trainee ranks at Stamford Bridge, cleaning the boots of former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise and current left-back Celestine Babayaro along the way.

But the London-born striker is enjoying the perks of first team football on his own merits now, and underlined his potential with a fine solo goal after coming on as a substitute in Chelsea's 3-2 victory at Charlton Athletic on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday.

"The Manager Claudio Ranieri calls me his 'lion'," he said.

"He told me he wanted to see the lion in me... So I just went out there and did what I know best.

"I have the confidence to believe I can score goals at this level, and this goal will hopefully lead to even better things.

"I have always wanted to succeed with Chelsea.

It's the club I love... I've been really determined and it's beginning to pay off," he added.

Chelsea have been criticized in recent years for filling their teams with imported talent, Reuters reported.

Frank Lampard was the only Englishman in their starting lineup on Saturday before Cole was introduced as a replacement for Italian Gianfranco Zola to stunning effect.