Mauricio Pochettino makes grand Mykhailo Mudryk Chelsea gesture after Fulham goal with new plan

Mykhailo Mudryk is a special case for Chelsea and for football. He is being treated, it seems, not so much as a footballer but as a kid that needs protecting. He engages in games of crossbar challenge with his manager, he is spoken about as one of the best players in the world during training by his teammates. He is willed on to success by the Chelsea faithful from the stands in times of frustrating output.

It is a testament to himself that despite having not scored a goal for the club or assisted this season, at the time, he was applauded off the pitch last week against Brighton. His efforts are appreciated and the unearthed, unleashed talent is truly being pushed to the forefront by the fans.

In a time of change he has experienced more than most. Takeovers, transfers and backroom changes aside, Mudryk has been moved, as a young boy, not yet man, from his home country due to war. He has been propelled into personal turmoil whilst asked to perform at the top level.

At Shakhtar Donetsk he was the glimmering hope of Ukrainian football during a time that it wasn't safe to play matches in the country. Forcing his ways into headlines and towards the top of scouting lists for clubs across Europe, his burst onto the scene in last season's Champions League group stage is typically Mudryk; entirely unpredictable and with the full bite of energy capable.

Now he's spent 10 months in west London having been long down the path of going to the capital's north. His price tag is inflated on a daily basis — a number sits at a still sizeable £62million and won't get bigger until group and individual goals are achieved at which point it is deemed worth the added expense — and his every touch scrutinised more than most.

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