Considered dispensable by Manchester United, Jadon Sancho was Chelsea's final signing of a busy summer transfer window, as the England winger joined in a hastily arranged loan deal on deadline day.
Once the Blues moved Raheem Sterling to Arsenal on temporary terms, Sancho was brought in on a loan-to-buy arrangement which is set to be made permanent next summer for a fee of £25million.
As his arrival was not confirmed before the cut-off point for new registrations, the former Borussia Dortmund star did not sign in time to play against Crystal Palace - a game in which Enzo Maresca's men were held to a 1-1 draw.
International football has since intervened, so Sancho has been part of a group training at Chelsea's Cobham base over the past few days, with a view to being involved in next week's Premier League game against Bournemouth.
Having played a part in United's pre-season schedule, the 24-year-old Londoner will not be too far behind in terms of match fitness, despite being ignored by Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag since the top flight kicked off.
Meeting up with Maresca at Cobham
© Imago
Reports suggest that some 17 Chelsea players have remained at Cobham during the international break, following a day off after the game against Crystal Palace.
Sancho was not called up to the England squad for September's UEFA Nations League matches, so he has joined full training for the first time since completing his move from Manchester, familiarising himself with Maresca's meticulous demands ahead of a potential club debut on Saturday, September 14.
Alongside new teammates who either withdrew from international duty - such as France defender Wesley Fofana - or those that were not called up by their nation, he has been hard at work trying to win his new manager's favour.
Before Chelsea's stars return from national-team duty, Sancho has the chance to prove his attitude to training is not as previously suggested by Ten Hag, and that he should be considered for a place in the Blues' starting lineup.
Will Sancho start against Bournemouth?
© Imago
After the break, Chelsea will travel down to the south coast for a tricky test against Bournemouth, seeking back-to-back away wins in the Premier League following a comprehensive victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sancho should certainly feature in the squad for the first time, though Maresca has a substantial group of able wide players already in contention for a place in the final third.
Portuguese pair Pedro Neto and Joao Felix join Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk near the front of the queue, so Sancho is most likely to start on the bench.
However, if the man who starred in Dortmund's unlucky Champions League final defeat can sufficiently impress Maresca this week, he may even be thrown straight into the starting XI.
