Chelsea have played just eight games so far this season, but Trevoh Chalobah has already found himself in a difficult position.
The previous campaign saw the 23-year-old compete in the senior side for the first time in his career, having come through the academy at Cobham and spending time out on loan at Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and Lorient.
Chalobah’s performances during pre-season last summer were soon rewarded, with the centre-back making his Chelsea debut in the Super Cup final against Villarreal.
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He played the full 120 minutes for the side, and lifted the trophy come full-time as the Blues beat their Spanish opposition 6-5 on penalties.
The defender went on to make another 29 appearances across all competitions, scoring three Premier League goals and netting one in the Champions League against Juventus.
His efforts would lead some to believe that he could compete for a starting spot in the side this season, but such an expectation could not be further from reality.
Chalobah has featured in just one match for Chelsea this season, playing the full 90 minutes in their victory over Leicester City in the Premier League.
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The result is one of three wins in the campaign so far, a poor number considering how many games they have already played this term.
He was not included in the squad for the loss against Southampton, but has been named on the bench for their other six matches.
Over the course of the summer transfer window, Chalobah may have had cause for concern over his game time for the west London side.
Chelsea signed Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana for the centre-back spots, with Marc Cucurella also having the ability to play in the back three despite being brought in to primarily compete for the left wing-back spot against Ben Chilwell.
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Throughout the season so far, it has been clear to see that they have all been preferred starters over Chalobah.
Koulibaly has six starts to his name and Cucurella has five, with Fofana’s two appearances in the starting XI being down to his late arrival in the window from Leicester City.
However, the Frenchman has still acquired more game time than the player in question, despite arriving at Stamford Bridge just 24 hours before Deadline Day.
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After the first eight games of last season, Chalobah had already made five appearances for the Blues, but his minutes this time round have been a lot less.
Such a lack of game time could see him leave the club this season, although it is not yet known if a departure would be permanent or just a loan.
This is due to recent reports suggesting that a persistent shortage of minutes on the pitch for Chelsea could see him seek a move away in January.
Chalobah wanted a loan move during the summer but the Blues opted to keep him, despite him having interest from the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and RB Leipzig over a potential deal.
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While an exit from the club was an idea for the defender during the summer, he could now have another chance to work his way back into the side at Chelsea.
Graham Potter’s arrival as head coach after the club’s sacking of Thomas Tuchel has handed Chalobah a lifeline for the next few months.
He did not feature in the Champions League draw against FC Salzburg, Potter’s first game in charge as their new boss.
However, with Chelsea set to play 13 games in all competitions before the break for the World Cup, the centre-back now has the chance to prove his worth.
Summer arrivals Koulibaly and Fofana are likely to maintain starting positions given their experience and price tags, although the defensive duo were also unused against Salzburg.
Despite recently turning 38-years-old, Thiago Silva continues to be a rock at the back for Chelsea, with his leadership also set to be a contributing factor to further appearances this season.
Cucurella’s ability to play on the left of a back three and the presence of captain Cesar Azpilicueta could spell further competition for places, but this is something Chalobah will have to overcome if he is to reach the next level.
The hectic schedule ahead will likely see Potter make some rotational changes in order to prevent injuries or burnout.
Despite current competition, the 23-year-old has already proven himself in both the Premier League and Champions League, particularly the former given Chelsea have never lost when he has started in the league.
A trip to Crystal Palace after the international break could give him the opportunity to be named in the starting lineup, and a good performance against the Eagles would give him a real boost.
It will be far from easy for him, given the quality that some of his fellow defenders have at their disposal.
However, if he continues to play limited minutes on the pitch for Chelsea, then there is a real possibility that he could look for a move away in January.
Topics: Chelsea, Trevoh Chalobah, Graham Potter
Robert Calcutt