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Former Chelsea player turned-pundit, Pat Nevin has urged Enzo Maresca to give Joao Felix and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall more game minutes. He believes the two players have enough quality to feature more regularly in the manager's setup.
Felix and Dewsbury-Hall joined the Blues in the summer from Atletico Madrid and Leicester City, respectively. The Portuguese returned for a second stint at Stamford Bridge after his half-season loan deal at the club in 2023. He's penned a seven-year contract reportedly worth £46.3 million. Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, was roped in from Maresca's former club for a reported £30 million.
Both players have struggled for game minutes this season, with the manager deploying them mostly in cup games and the UEFA Europa Conference League. Felix has managed 283 minutes in seven games across competitions, while Dewsbury-Hall has seen 403 minutes in the same number of appearances.
Speaking recently to Metro, Pat Nevin highlighted both players' quality and called on Maresca to feature them more in the first team. He said about Joao Felix:
"I’m a massive fan of Joao Felix. He’s kind of been dismissed a bit by a lot of people but don’t dismiss him. He needs to get a better run in the first team, perhaps when they need cover for Cole Palmer. There’s no doubt he’ll prove people wrong."
He added that Dewsbury-Hall is another player who needs to be given more opportunities to showcase his qualities:
"If you look further around that team, people like Dewsbury-Hall have not even got a game yet and he’s great, a really, super player. He showed that in the Conference League a few weeks back and he surely needs more chances soon," he added.
Felix and Dewsbury-Hall have also recorded a goal each. The former Atletico Madrid star scored against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league, while the Englishman was on the scoresheet in the Blues' 4-1 Conference league victory over Gent.
Pat Nevin highlights where Chelsea needs improvement despite recent form
Chelsea have been in good form lately. Since their 2-0 loss to Manchester City on the opening day, they have recorded four wins and two draws in the Premier League. This includes impressive 6-2 and 4-2 victories over Wolves and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.
Pat Nevin has been impressed with the work Enzo Maresca has done so far but believes there is still work to be done especially in defense. He said (via Metro):
"They’ve got creativity all over the pitch. I don’t think the defence is quite right yet – I think everybody can see that – but the quality of players they’ve got coming in now is incredible.
"I find them entertaining and whether they win or not or get top four, I like to be entertained. Chelsea over the last few decades have been entertaining, there’s never a dull moment and I expect that’s going to carry on this season."
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League with 14 points, four points behind league leaders Liverpool who they'll next play at Anfield on Sunday, October 20.
