Graham Potter has moved to reassure Mykhaylo Mudryk of his importance to Chelsea after the £87million January recruit failed to make it off the bench in the past two games.
Mudryk arrived in west London during the January transfer window after the Blues gazumped Arsenal to land the Ukraine international. He came with a heavy burden of expectation after impressing for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, but has yet to find his feet at Chelsea.
The 22-year-old has not contributed a goal or an assist in six appearances and has found himself out of the team. After being given just 10 minutes at the end of the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in February, he has been left on the bench during the past two matches, wins over Leeds and Borussia Dortmund.
Potter held a private chat with Mudryk earlier this week to discuss his progress and explain why he’s not played much recently, according to journalist Simon Phillips. And speaking ahead of Chelsea’s game against Leicester on Saturday, Potter said injuries to Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount could open the door for him to play this weekend.
"He certainly comes into the equation," Potter told reporters of Mudryk. "He is a player we believe in a lot and is adapting to the new situation. When he arrived, he was at the start of a pre-season campaign really.
"So to come in and hit the Premier League running is not easy to do. But day by day, and week by week, he is getting stronger. He will be in the squad tomorrow and there is a chance he can play."
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After rotating his forwards, Potter has settled on a front three of Kai Havertz, Joao Felix and Sterling for the past two games and has been rewarded with two victories. His selection has left the likes of Mudryk, Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Noni Madueke out of the team.
But Chelsea look set to be without Sterling for their trip to play Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday. Potter revealed that the England star had felt tightness in his hamstring in the past few days, while Aubameyang has been ruled out with a back problem.
Potter was asked how he tries to keep his players happy when the bloated size of the squad means many won’t get game time. "Well, you just have to do the maths," he said. "Only 11 can play and we've got more than 11, so inevitably, they're not going to be happy. There is no point in denying that. That isn't to say they've not been really professional and supportive of the team. There are always injuries and things that happen.
"The players know that they have to be ready. That is how football works. They have to be ready, keep fighting, and make sure when the chance comes they are ready to play."
