Chelsea have not been in action for three weeks, but Stamford Bridge is finally ready to light up again, with the promise of good football and plenty of talking points.
The international break felt like an eternity, particularly after the defeat to Brentford, but there was still plenty happening around Chelsea during those three weeks. Some players enjoyed a productive break, while others endured a more difficult spell away from west London.
We give you the winners and losers of the international break.
Winner - Maxence Lacroix
Zinedine Zidane’s new-look France squad is beginning to offer an insight into his vision for the future, and Chelsea new signing Maxence Lacroix appears to be part of it. With William Saliba absent, two centre-back positions were up for grabs, giving Lacroix a major opportunity to stake his claim.
He took it with both hands, featuring in all four matches, starting three and coming on in the final five minutes to help France secure a draw against Italy. His performances in the 1-0 away wins over Turkey and Belgium were particularly impressive, making it an excellent international break for the Chelsea defender.
Loser - Jamie Gittens
The attacking midfielder was drafted into the England Under-21 squad hoping to use the international break to build up some valuable minutes and regain his rhythm. However, he barely lasted 45 minutes before being forced off with a nasty kick to the ankle.
After being selected, the four-game break offered him a chance to build his fitness and form, but that opportunity was cut short almost immediately. With the length of his absence still unclear, the injury feels like another setback in his Chelsea career at a time when he needed minutes most.
Winner - Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers scored once and provided two assists across England’s international fixtures, starting both games against Czechia home and away. He impressed in a Three Lions shirt and continued the strong form he had shown for Chelsea, although one small detail appeared to leave Thomas Tuchel frustrated.
For Rogers, the priority was to maintain his confidence and momentum during the three-week break. Spending that time without his Chelsea attacking partner Cole Palmer appears to have done him no harm, and the hope now is that he can carry that form straight into Saturday’s return to club football.
Loser - Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato needed a confidence boost following his errors against Hull City, but it is fair to say the international break did little to provide one. He played just 30 minutes in the final game and spent the majority of the break watching from the substitutes’ bench.
Micky van de Ven was the preferred option, featuring in all four games at left-back despite it being an unfamiliar position for him. That decision could offer an early indication of how Xavi Hernandez sees his options, and potentially be a sign of things to come for Hato.
Winner - Estevao
The Brazilian may be suffering from jet lag right now, but his trip to Australia and India should prove worthwhile after he picked up some valuable minutes on the pitch. Carlo Ancelotti also showed him the same faith that Xabi Alonso has failed to place in him at Chelsea.
His best performance came in India, where a goal and an assist underlined exactly what he can offer. It could go a long way towards strengthening his case for more minutes in a Chelsea shirt.
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