'Protected' Mudryk is in danger

UNGLAMOROUS and inconvenient, the Conference League is nonetheless likely to be important for Chelsea's fringe players and, in spite of his price tag, Mykhailo Mudryk is increasingly in danger of becoming part of that group.

- Dan Kilpatrick

Mudryk has started two of Enzo Maresca's three games in charge, including the 2-0 win over Servette a week ago, but his place in the pecking order suddenly appears as precarious as at any point since his £62million move from Shakhtar Donetsk 18 months ago.

The Ukrainian was hooked at halftime of Sunday's 6-2 thrashing of Wolves for new signing Pedro Neto following another largely ineffective 45 minutes, and Chelsea were rampant in a clinical second half.