Mateo Kovacic signed from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day, Chelsea fans have been desperate to see their new man start ever since.
There were some fans who expected to see him start last weekend against Arsenal, but Maurizio Sarri made it very clear in his press conference the preceding day that that wasn’t happening.
The Croatian came on for the last half an hour and looked a class apart, and now once again Blues fans have their eyes on this weekend’s fixtures, hoping their new man will play from the start.
That’s certainly possible, and after playing 30 minutes against Arsenal there’s no reason it would be impossible. But there’s one reason it’s unlikely.
We can see how Sarri deals with these things using the example of Eden Hazard. He played 30 minutes in the first game too, but still didn’t start against Arsenal.
While he will surely be fit to play from the start this weekend, assuming Kovacic follows the same model, he will be given another go off the bench against Newcastle.
After that, it’s anyone’s guess. But this weekend should see our last fixture without our first XI in action.