'Need to start contributing': Martin Keown digs out two Chelsea players who simply must do more
Martin Keown has highlighted the two Chelsea players he’s convinced need to start contributing more to help out.
Everyone is looking around the Chelsea squad right now for a bit of inspiration because the team’s form is very up and down.
The Blues have dropped to sixth spot in the Premier League table, winning only two of their previous nine top-flight matches.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 6 |  ChelseaChelsea |
25 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 47 | 34 | 13 | 43 |
In the last 18 months, Cole Palmer has usually been the saviour with his individual brilliance. Even he’s drawing a blank in front of goal right now, though. He’s gone five games across all competitions without scoring or assisting.
Without injured striker Nicolas Jackson in the team, Paul Merson thinks Palmer is suffering from a lack of movement around him.
Martin Keown urges Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho to step up
According to Martin Keown, Chelsea wingers Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho seriously need to roll their sleeves up to contribute a lot more attacking output.
Keown told The Daily Mail: “So often since his arrival, Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s saviour and has thrived in his link-up play behind Nicolas Jackson… Chelsea need Nkunku to stretch the play for Palmer to help them to be more creative.
“With Noni Madueke also injured, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho need to start contributing goals and assists. For too long, Maresca has relied too heavily on the Jackson-Palmer axis.”
Blues winger Noni Madueke may be out until March’s international break with a hamstring injury. Therefore, can his teammates shine in his absence by delivering far more goal contributions?
In Sancho and Neto, Chelsea do have two exceptionally talented wide men, especially when the ball is glued to their feet. However, they simply need to start producing more attacking output to help out a forward line desperately missing Jackson’s presence.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Jadon Sancho | 22 | 2 | 6 |
| Noni Madueke | 28 | 8 | 4 |
| Pedro Neto | 29 | 4 | 5 |
In fairness, speaking back in January, Maresca suggested Sancho and Neto need more goals after finding themselves in good positions.
Tyrique George is a wildcard option
If the Blues want to try something different in the wide positions, Chelsea youngster Tyrique George could be a really interesting solution.
The 19-year-old winger, who’s a product of the Blues academy, has had a taste of first-team action with 12 senior appearances across all competitions. He’s still yet to start a Premier League match in his career, though.
As demonstrated in his recent cameo versus Brighton, the rapid attacker brings a fearlessness to the pitch to inject something extra in a struggling forward line. The pressure may be weighing heavy on Sancho and Neto right now, but George is a fearless youngster with an excitement to play and showcase his potential.
There’s a chance that George may start against Aston Villa in Saturday evening’s Premier League fixture. If he does, it would certainly send out a strong message to the senior winger left out.
from Latest Chelsea News and Updates - The Chelsea Chronicle https://ift.tt/GJ0sgTC
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