Why Jadon Sancho should be dropped by Chelsea as Enzo Maresca unleashes new Cole Palmer partner

Chelsea have one game left before things get serious again. Their last two weeks have been the precursor to a run-in which looks tough on paper and maybe even harder in reality when there are end-of-season pressures attached.

In matches against Southampton, FC Copenhagen (twice), and Leicester City, Chelsea had the perfect opportunity to build up a bit of confidence before heading to Arsenal. Enzo Maresca is three quarters of the way there to making it a perfect period results wise.

Performances have not been as kind, neither has the general response from supporters. At this stage of this season many will say that is conjecture and largely does not matter as long as the business is being done.

What this mini-stretch also allowed was for Maresca to try a few things. Injuries have meant that experimentation has been lacking, although Pedro Neto as a solution to being without Nicolas Jackson has worked well enough to see Chelsea through until after the international break.

One player whose stock has risen is Tyrique George. Before February he had only played six minutes (plus stoppage time) in the Premier League. He has come from the bench in three of the last four and on Sunday played what might be his most meaningful cameo yet.

George is still central to Conference League plans and played the full game in Copenhagen last week, being from the right (which isn't his natural side) to a No.9 role after halftime once Shumaira Mheuka was taken off. That is his third 90 in a row in that competition and the fourth time in the past five fixtures that he has gotten at least 68 minutes.

His impact during those games has started to increase as well. From a slight but tricky winger he now offers genuine threat and output. As a wide-man he is a one-on-one danger but also attacks space well. He is not afraid to use both feet and has grown into the senior squad this season.

Against Copenhagen and also Southampton he registered assists, driving down the line on different sides before getting back for a teammate. It is no exaggeration to say that he is perhaps the most in-form winger in the squad (Neto is being classed as a striker for this calculation).

George is still very much behind Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho but maybe he shouldn't be. Sancho is without a goal since December 8 and hasn't assisted since January 4. His last shot on target came more than 733 minutes ago in all competitions with that spanning 13 appearances.

Sancho has never been a prolific shot-taker but went five without taking a single one before his second half effort against Leicester. Whether it be facing low-blocks or high-lines, his influence has waned, as has his personal confidence.

He did win the penalty which was missed by Cole Palmer but otherwise did not standout in anyway and hasn't done for a while. Having started the season looking like the playmaker of old, Sancho is more akin to the forward seen at Manchester United than Borussia Dortmund. The size of his relatively small £20-25million transfer fee still makes the risk worthwhile but it now risks clogging up an area of the pitch and limiting George, who has been more exciting of late.

As for Nkunku, he did score against Southampton as well as assisting, but he was not signed to beat off the lowest rank of league team possible. It is telling that his only goal against clubs outside of the bottom two was back in September, and there have only been three in total.. The Frenchman has rarely looked like he wanted to be on board at Chelsea, and not even a run of games has changed that.

He had more to go at than Sancho on Sunday, firing a left-footed shot over from a decent position (winning a corner which should not have been in the process) before seeing his header from a corner not met by either of the two runners at the backpost who seemed to forget their role. Nkunku is still neat and tidy in possession, much like Sancho, but has been significantly blunt.

The worry for Chelsea and Maresca is that they have not found a new edge in the past three matches when opportunities to get back to their best were there. Now, with a critical and tough run until the end of May, they will need to get back up to speed whilst in the thick of it.

George has gone from prospect to being a trusted member of the first-team but maybe a chance has been missed to give him even more exposure. It was notable that Maresca was willing to turn to him against Leicester with the result on the line. He will also surely start the second-leg against Copenhagen. Chelsea will need more from George before the season finishes but may be about to pass through his best window for game time as well.

Join the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp community

Sign up to our Chelsea WhatsApp service and get all the latest breaking news and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Chelsea writers direct to your phone.

By signing up to this free service you will be the first to know the news from Stamford Bridge as it happens.

To join our Chelsea community, all you have to do is click this link to join and you're in!