Emerson Palmieri waited for a Premier League start, and he waited and he waited some more. It is more than 18 months, more than 530 days since he started for Chelsea in the derby against Arsenal in January last year.
Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard and he remained firmly the third choice left back at Stamford Bridge, having a run out against Morecambe and Luton in the FA Cup and coming off the bench in the final seconds to eat up time in the Champions League.
He has not played a minute in the Premier League since December but, on Sunday, Emerson is expected to start for Italy in the Euro 2020 final, reward for his patience and professionalism, and for stepping in to deputise ably in the absence of Leonardo Spinazzola in the semi-final against Spain.