It's been a frustrating start to life at Chelsea for Denis Zakaria. The Switzerland international is still yet to make his Blues debut after joining on loan from Juventus as the transfer window closed.
There is plenty of competition in the midfield department, with Zakaria up against Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Conor Gallagher, N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek - but the 25-year-old must have expected to have received at least some game time in the 44 days since he joined the club.
Zakaria revealed that a big factor behind him making the move from Juventus was working under Thomas Tuchel, who, of course, was sacked just days after his arrival. Under Graham Potter, Zakaria has been an unused substitute three times and has been left out of the squad twice.
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Although he is yet to play his first minutes in a Chelsea shirt, Zakaria has sent a strong message to Potter and those at Chelsea. On his Twitter page on Friday, the midfielder posted a picture of himself in training with the caption: 'Motivated'.
Given recent injury updates regarding N'Golo Kante and a doubt over Mason Mount's fitness, the Swiss international could soon be set for some game time at Chelsea. Kante - who hasn't played for the Blues since the draw against Tottenham in August - is set to miss three months of action with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, The Athletic state that Mount is set to undergo a scan on a thigh issue ahead of the trip to Aston Villa on Sunday. However, the Blues are hopeful that the England international will be fit for the clash.
Zakaria will have to maintain the patience he's shown since joining Chelsea, but with Kante out long-term, and with Mount carrying a thigh issue, the midfielder could set to get his first Blues opportunities in the coming weeks. His message certainly highlights that he feels he is ready to take part.
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