Frank Lampard insisted that Chelsea loanee Kenedy is making a real case to grab a first team spot this season.
The Brazilian has been out on loan for the past 18 months with Newcastle, having two varying spells with in the North East.
In his first six months, the 23-year-old was excellent under Rafa Benitez, playing on the left wing and impressing enough to get another season at St James' Park.
However, he did not have a successful 2018/19 Premier League season, falling out of favour in the side and then being returned back to Stamford Bridge in disappointment.
Kenedy has a lot of making up to do at Chelsea, having been thrown off of Chelsea's pre-season tour back in the summer of 2017 after offending the Chinese people with some Instagram posts.
But with Lampard at the helm, he might have a chance to push for another place in the side and Lampard has been impressed with him so far.
"In terms of Kenedy, my feeling coming into a big squad with a transfer ban was that I need to asses the players for as long as I can in pre-season to make sure we pick a squad with me having had good eyes on them in training and in games," Lampard said.
"If Kenedy continues to show the attitude and plays the way he played today, then he's given a great case to stay here, I know he has been out on loan in recent seasons, and be part of the squad.
"Nobody is in or out of the squad. There's nobody who has had a line drawn under them or over them.
"Everyone is competing and the squad will be picked in due time."