England captain John Terry has given his backing to Chelsea team-mate Michael Mancienne, who received his first call-up.

Defender Mancienne is currently gaining valuable first-team experience during a loan spell with Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves.

Terry believes the England Under-21 player has great potential and could eventually force his way into Chelsea's team, and feels he will reap the benefits of his loan spell, just as he did early in his career.

Terry said: "Fair play to Michael. We have got a lot of players at Chelsea and he has been eager to go out and prove that he is good enough.

"Myself and Lamps (Frank Lampard) spoke to Stuart Pearce and he said Michael has been his best player in the Under-21s.

"He will gain from the experience and his form has been fantastic for Wolves. They have had three or four wins since he has been there and he has got a bright future ahead of him.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on the lad but we all realise he is one for the future.

"He could come back and be in the Chelsea side, quite possibly. He has been eager to break into the squad. It is very unfortunate for all the young players at Chelsea that we have got such a big squad.

"In the Carling Cup, when the manager leaves out the likes of myself and Lamps, there are players who are not playing week in and week out who deserve to play.

"They get paid a lot of money to be part of our squad and it is difficult sometimes to throw the younger lads in but he will get his chance, I am sure."

Terry added: "I went on loan to Nottingham Forest and it is a good experience. You go out and you have to stand on your own two feet.

"I heard Mick McCarthy say he turned up there on his own, he is living on his own and getting on with his football and that is all that the boy wants to do.

"He wants to play football regularly and, if he can do that at Wolves and other big clubs, he has got the chance to come back and maybe do that at Chelsea."

Mancienne has highlighted his work with Under-21 boss Pearce as a crucial factor in his shock call-up for Wednesday's game in Berlin.

"I've found working with Stuart Pearce very good, he's understanding and easy to talk to, he always gives an honest opinion," Mancienne said.

"If he sees something not right, he'll talk to me and correct me. We've been wanting to do well for the manager."

Pearce has also been credited with easing Theo Walcott into the national team after blooding him with the Under-21s, and Mancienne feels the Arsenal teenager is setting an example to other hopefuls.

"Theo getting in was a real morale boost," he added.

"He's got the world at his feet. He can go on and do massive things because he has frightening pace, agility, and everything else. It was always good playing with Theo because he brings a lot to the team.

"You've seen his confidence go through the roof since his hat-trick (against Croatia). That is what he needed and now he'll go on."

Mancienne was on the bench for Chelsea earlier in the season but feels his football development has come from his time on loan.

"It is good to be involved at such a massive club (Chelsea)," he added. "I haven't really been there for two years because of loans but it was good to be back.

"I grew as a footballer when I was on loan and developed an understanding of the game. I've been in relegation battles and my experiences have improved me."