Alan Shearer has picked his Premier League team of the season so far, and Antonio Rudiger is the only Chelsea player to make the cut.
Well, technically two, as Conor Gallagher, who is on loan at Crystal Palace, is also among the eleven players.
Rudiger’s inclusion is hardly a surprise given his consistent performance this season.
Unlike many other Chelsea players, who have had to deal with injury and Covid-19 problems, Rudiger has been rather fortunate.
The Germany international has had 20 starts in the Premier League this season and missed just one game, the joint-highest at Chelsea, alongside Edouard Mendy.
A few other Chelsea players, including Thiago Silva and Jorginho, have also had a great season and arguably deserve to be on the list, but it is hard to argue against Shearer’s preferred picks.
Particularly in midfield, where several other high-profile players such as Manchester City’s Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan also get left out, which speaks volumes about Gallagher’s meteoric rise in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old has racked up six goals and three assists for the Eagles this season — an outstanding record for a midfielder.
To put it into perspective, Mason Mount (seven goals and five assists) is the only player in the current Chelsea squad with more goal contributions in the league than Gallagher so far.
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter.