Enzo Maresca has new Chelsea undroppable as Noni Madueke change considered

Pedro Neto spent the first several weeks of his Chelsea career adjusting to Enzo Maresca's style of play, as well as his new surroundings in London. Now, just over three months since his £54million move from Wolves was completed, the 24-year-old is beginning to find his stride.

The Portuguese international has played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea's last three Premier League games and scored the equaliser against Arsenal right before the November international break. In 15 appearances for the Blues this season Neto has three goals and three assists, but to be fair he has been competing with Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk and Jadon Sancho for a place in the side.

While Neto is capable of playing on the left and right-wing, Maresca has admitted the former Wolves star's best position is on the right, which means him and Madueke are battling it out for that one spot. Madueke started on the right against the Gunners last Sunday but was taken off in the second half, with Mudryk coming on and Neto moving over to the right. Maresca explained it was a tactical decision after the game, although Madueke did not appear too happy as he was spotted storming straight down the tunnel after being substituted.

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"The problem is when you change a player, they are never happy," Maresca said after the game. "Probably the only way to be happy is after the Wolves game where he [Madueke] scored a hat-trick and we changed him, so he was happy. It's not only about Noni, it's about all the players.

"It's a good thing because they want to be there until the end. But in that moment, we thought in different ways, probably Pedro with Timber could be a little bit more aggressive - and also with Misha. So it was a tactical decision, no more than that."

Madueke's poor reaction to being taken off against Arsenal may play into Neto's hands, with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand among those to criticise Madueke. It may mean that Maresca drops the 22-year-old to the bench for Chelsea's next game against Leicester on Saturday, November 23, with Neto playing in his favoured right wing position in the Englishman's place.

Former Blues defender Glen Johnson has praised Neto for being patient in the opening months of the season, and believes he deserves a place in the starting line-up given his impressive recent performances. Johnson told Betfred: “Now he’s playing more regularly for Chelsea, we’re starting to see just how good he can be for the club.

"He’s a threat going forward and defensively he gets back and helps out his full-back. Against Arsenal, he made a few mistakes, but his reaction to those mistakes would have been exactly what his manager wanted to see.

"His workrate is through the roof. This is why Chelsea signed him and now he’s starting more regularly, we're beginning to see the best of him. Fair play to him for being patient.”

With Neto expected to feature for Portugal against Poland and Croatia in the coming days, everyone associated with Chelsea will be hoping the winger comes back to London fit and raring to go. There is plenty of football to be played between now and Christmas and, judging by recent performances, Neto is likely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.