Hiddink: Matt Miazga not yet ready for the pace at Chelsea

A significant injury to Kurt Zouma won't afford Matt Miazga an opportunity in the Chelsea first team, as interim manager Guus Hiddink suggests he needs to adapt to the pace of English football.

The United States international joined the Blues from the New York Red Bulls in January amid much excitement in his homeland, but it could be some time before he lines up in the Premier League.

"He is physically okay but we'll see what will happen," Hiddink said. "He's a youngster, although already in the U.S.A. national team, but he has to get used to our way of playing - it's a little bit faster. But once he adapts himself he's an open guy, a good guy, very professional."

Miazga was not the only defender called in as backup after Zouma's unfortunate ACL injury, as youngster Jake Clarke-Salter was also called upon to bolster the ranks. It appeared that the middle of the Blues' backline would predominantly comprise of veterans Gary Cahill and John Terry until the end of the season, but the latter was replaced early in Saturday's meeting with Newcastle United due to an apparent leg injury.

"(Miazga) has moved up and I have a kid from the academy (Clarke-Salter) who is now with us," Hiddink said. "We'll see what will happen but we have inside the first squad of 15, 16 players some variations with (Branislav) Ivanovic, with Baba (Rahman). We have some options to use."

For now, the target for the 20-year-old Miazga is to acclimatize to a new continent and bide his time, as he is expected to assume an important role in the future.

"We don't have any doubts about whether (Miazga) is needed," Hiddink said. "He was meant to come here (in January) to get used to our way of working, training, so that he could integrate more easily and not just in the upcoming season."