Ahead of facing his boyhood club this weekend, Ross Barkley's progress since was singled out for praise by Chelsea's Maurizio Sarri.
After a shaky start upon Sarri's arrival and with the Blues hosting Everton on Sunday, the Italian coach was candid but lauded Barkley's improvement.
"At the beginning, in the first month, Ross was in trouble," he said. "But then he started to improve in every training session, in every match.
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"I am surprised how he has adapted if I think back to the first month, but not if I think of the last two months.