Losing Cole Palmer to injury had the potential to completely derail Chelsea so early into the new Premier League season.
Enzo Maresca's Blues did lose 3-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in what was their first game without their star man at the start of September, but since then, the West Londoners have picked up five straight wins in all competitions to flex the quality oozing throughout their squad, even with Palmer missing.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer
Thankfully for the Italian, many a new star has been unearthed in his absence, with Chelsea youngster Tyrique George - in particular - making his presence known last time out as the Blues humbled Ajax 5-1 on their own patch in the Champions League.
Why George is pushing for a Chelsea start
Rumours had begun to surface recently that one of Chelsea's own in George was looking for a move away, with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both ahead of him in the Stamford Bridge pecking order in the striker department.
But, with Pedro suspended and Delap still out injured for the mid-week clash with the Amsterdam giants, the 19-year-old seriously impressed as a second-half substitute in the main striker position, as a first-ever goal on Europe's grandest stage fell into his lap.
Just a matter of minutes after being introduced into the contest, George would power home this fine effort past a hapless Remko Pasveer, with the night very much belonging to Chelsea's rising stars, as both Marc Guiu and Jamie Gittens also got in on the act with goals and assists.
This emphatic display mid-week could well mean Maresca is wracked with some selection headaches heading back into Premier League action later today versus Sunderland, with George no doubt pushing for a start ahead of the aforementioned Guiu, even if Pedro is now back, too, from sitting out the clash against Ajax.
Tyrique-George
George isn't the only starlet who will be demanding first-team minutes against the Black Cats, however, as this fellow Stamford Bridge prodigy has an even more compelling case to remain in the Italian's starting XI for the test of Regis Le Bris' visitors.
Maresca must start teen who's "similar to Cole Palmer"
If Chelsea can keep up this sterling run of form moving forward, Maresca and Co. could well be viewed as outside challengers for the Premier League title, especially when Palmer is also reintroduced into the first team fray.
Until then, however, the Blues do arguably possess another Palmer-like talent in Brazilian superstar Estevao, with Maresca himself even declaring that the 18-year-old is "similar to Cole Palmer" in terms of potentially becoming a future number ten option in time, away from being an out-and-out winger, which is extremely high praise, indeed.
Estevao's Chelsea numbers so far
Stat
Games played
Minutes played
Goals scored
Assists
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Such outlandish praise is unlikely to backfire, too, with the South American teenager very much used to such latherings of praise by now, having been branded as "world-class" when still on the books of Palmeiras by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
He has slotted in nicely at Chelsea, too, much like Palmer managed when leaving Manchester City behind, with two goals and one assist already coming his way in England, despite being afforded just 443 minutes of action.
One of those efforts did come about during the rampant display against Ajax, with the breakout number 41 backing up his last-gasp goal against Liverpool by confidently dispatching this spot-kick with ease.
Pedro Neto does have a strong argument to hand to return to the XI against Sunderland on Estevao's right-hand side, however, with a goal and assist tallied up last time out, enough to push Ange Postecoglou off his precarious Nottingham Forest tight-rope.
estevao
Subsequently, this showdown with the Wearside titans could be the perfect opportunity for Maresca to experiment with Estevao as a number ten option, to try to begin his journey to become the next iteration of Palmer, with both Andrey Santos and the aforementioned Guiu failing to do much from this role at the City Ground.
Maresca will, of course, feel more secure with Palmer back in his lineup when he's finally rid of his injury troubles.
Yet, the future looks extremely bright at Stamford Bridge, away from Palmer, with Estevao leading the way as the brightest light of Chelsea's next generation.