Chelsea's Estevao has failed to start a game in the Premier League this season as the Blues attack adopts a similar look with questions asked over the Brazilian's role
Estevao is yet to make a Premier League start this season as the Chelsea star struggles to dislodge Cole Palmer or Morgan Rogers
Estevao is yet to make a Premier League start this season as the Chelsea star struggles to dislodge Cole Palmer or Morgan Rogers
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Chelsea star Estevao is "too good not to be in the team" as Jamie Redknapp called on the Brazilian to get more minutes under Xabi Alonso.
The winger is yet to start a Premier League game this term, appearing off the bench on four occasions, as the Blues adopt a new look with their head coach switching up their formation and introducing his new signings.
Chelsea's front three had begun to adopt an established look with Joao Pedro leading the line and having Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers either side of him. In the absence on Pedro on Friday night, Danny Welbeck stepped in as the Blues were beaten 3-0 at Brentford.
Redknapp admits Palmer and Rogers, who cost £117million back in the summer, are going to be hard to dislodge but challenged Alonso to find a way to get Estevao more involved.
He said on Sky Sports: "I look at Estevao, is he too good a player not to play in this team? He is in an incredible talent but how do you get him in the team when you have got Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro? These are the problems he has to solve."
The 19-year-old made 12 starts in the Premier League last season and scored eight goals in all competitions under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, which included a late winner against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and a goal in the win over Barcelona.
Alonso has already found a new home for Pedro Neto, who is now playing as a wing-back, which has kept him in the starting XI. Geovany Quenda, another wide player, came off the bench on Friday with Jamie Gittens an unused substitute.
Xabi Alonso insists Estevao has a role to play at Chelsea
Xabi Alonso insists Estevao has a role to play at Chelsea
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Despite struggling to get minutes from the start Alonso has maintained that Estevao is part of his plans, but his age means that he still has plenty to learn.
He said earlier this month: "Este is ready, he's training well. [Against Arsenal] he had a very good impact, he has a great chance. So he's fully involved and with a very good attitude every day."
"100% [he has an important role], because of his potential, because he's so young, but he's in that process to adapt and to learn quickly. And the season is going to be long."
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