Enzo Maresca has warned not to expect Mathis Amougou - Chelsea’s sole January signing - to play a significant part in the rest of their campaign, despite the club’s midfield shortage.
Amougou joined the Blues from French side St. Etienne in a £12million deal on deadline day, at the end of what was a quiet window for the club in terms of incomings.
By contrast, six senior players were allowed to leave Stamford Bridge, including midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei. Renato Veiga, the versatile Portuguese defender who had occasionally been used in midfield by Maresca, was also loaned out to Juventus.
Maresca suddenly looks short on options in the middle of the park, having revealed on Friday that Romeo Lavia is still some way off a return from his latest injury.
It means that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is currently the only fit, senior backup to first-choice pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, and Maresca is on record as suggesting he sees the former Leicester man as more of an advanced player.
However, the Chelsea boss insisted that 19-year-old Amougou is being viewed as one for the future.
"We didn’t sign him thinking he’s going to play an important part with us [this season],” Maresca said. “The reason why is because of the age and we need the process.
“The reason we signed him is because we think he’s a good player and in some moment after a while, we think he can help us.
“Mathis is the same age as Josh [Acheampong], Tyrique [George], Marc Guiu, born 2006. He’s just 19 and at that age if they’re here it’s because we think they’re good but they could be better.
“With Mathis, it’s more or less the same. We saw he could be a good player but he needs to arrive here, adapt, progress.”
