Jordan Houghton wants to be more than a number to Jose Mourinho.

The Houghton has joined Gills on loan from Chelsea until January 3 and started the 2-1 win at Bromley on Tuesday night.

He’s won the FA Youth Cup with Chelsea and last season captained the under-21s. The 19-year-old has also trained with Blues’ stars but is yet to play for the senior side.

Houghton said: “You’ve got to be grateful for the opportunities you get in first-team training when they need you.

“Mourinho likes to work with a certain number so if people are injured, you might be in for a late call-up for training.

“There’s been a few opportunities. I went away with the first team, post-season, to Australia and Bangkok and last pre-season I was with them for a couple of games.

“It’s just trying to take experience from those opportunities. I haven’t really been a first-team squad player so maybe I’m just a number at the moment.

“I’ve just got to go out and try and catch his eye if I can.”

Houghton, who has played for England at under-16, under-17 and under-20 levels, picked Gillingham over Championship clubs in the hope of landing regular football.

He said: “I wanted to come here, get games and minutes in men’s football – that’s the main thing I wanted to achieve."

Full interview and more Gillingham news in Friday's Medway Messenger