Estevao Willian missed Brazil's World Cup campaign because of a hamstring injury. A late flourish from Estevao Willian almost snatched Chelsea a draw at Arsenal on Sunday. His curling strike was saved by goalkeeper David Raya to preserve Arsenal's lead, but it served as a reminder of the important role the 19-year-old Brazil winger could play in Xabi Alonso's side.

His game time has been limited so far this season by the club record £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa as well as the form of Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro. The £51m signing from Brazilian club Palmeiras has played only 96 minutes this season, with 80 of those coming against League One side Luton Town in the Carabao Cup. His remaining 16 minutes were in substitute appearances against Fulham and Premier League champions Arsenal, while he was unused as Chelsea held on for a narrow victory over Brighton in their third match of the campaign.

Reports in Brazil have suggested Estevao is unhappy with his lack of opportunities. However, those claims have been denied by sources at Stamford Bridge and by people close to the player, some of whom have also expressed excitement about Chelsea's summer recruitment - including the arrival of Rogers. Chelsea regard Estevao as one of a small group of untouchable players that includes Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Moises Caicedo. The club have no intention of selling any of them, with Estevao central to the long-term planning of Alonso and Chelsea's leadership team.

There were also early discussions over a new contract, with Chelsea keen to reward key players with improved terms in the coming months, having done so for Joao Pedro. Asked whether Estevao's lack of involvement meant he was unhappy, Alonso replied: "No, Este is ready, training well. The other day he had a great impact. He is fully involved with a very good attitude every day. I count on Estevao 100% because of his potential. He is so young but he is learning and adapting quickly. The season is long."

Estevao also suffered a serious grade-four hamstring tear late last season and missed the World Cup, so is expected to build his involvement through the campaign.

Chelsea explored move for Fulham midfielder Berge. Two right-backs in midfield - are Chelsea short despite £349m spent? Estevao came on for Pedro Neto, who has been operating as a wing-back in Alonso's new system, as Chelsea chased an equaliser on Sunday. It is difficult to imagine any other in-game circumstance in which Estevao would be asked to perform the same role, given the defensive and physical demands placed on players in that position. Instead, Palmer occupies Estevao's preferred inside-right number 10 role.

Estevao and Palmer have shown encouraging signs when used together when Alonso has played a back four - but he has deployed that shape only against Luton Town in the Carabao Cup. Displacing Palmer for league games could prove difficult as Alonso regards him as both a dressing-room leader and one of his key attacking threats. Alonso has also fielded close to his strongest side even in the Carabao Cup, with Chelsea not involved in European competition and with the new head coach eager to establish his tactical principles as quickly as possible following his arrival.

Estevao is not alone in struggling for meaningful minutes early in the season and, should Leeds United win at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the Blues will have no further cup fixtures until the FA Cup in January. That quietly makes Wednesday's game an important one in terms of keeping a 27-man squad satisfied.

Some of Chelsea's other young attackers have also struggled to start matches, with Palmer and Rogers beginning every game. Joao Pedro has started all three league matches, while experienced striker Danny Welbeck led the line against Luton. That has limited Emmanuel Emegha, who joined from Strasbourg in the summer, to only one appearance on the bench. Similarly, defender Aaron Anselmino is also yet to play and was only included in one squad, albeit both players are managing fitness issues. Other attacking options, including Geovany Quenda and Jamie Gittens, have featured for only eight and 10 minutes respectively across Chelsea's four matches this season. Quenda, who was signed despite interest from Manchester United in 2024, has also been left out of two of Alonso's matchday squads.

The situation might be even more challenging if it not for fitness issues affecting Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson, which have at times left Chelsea short in midfield. Even then, summer signing Valentin Barco has been restricted to one start and a substitute appearance, as right-back Malo Gusto has started in midfield instead. Wing-back Marco Palestra also remains out injured.

If Chelsea had a fully fit squad available, they would have to leave six outfield players out of their matchday squad, with clubs permitted to name 11 starters and nine substitutes in English football.

Analysis of successful teams playing without European football suggests managers often rely on a relatively small core group of players. Leicester City's surprise Premier League title-winning side of 2015-16 was achieved with only 14 players making more than 15 appearances in all competitions under Claudio Ranieri. The following season, Chelsea won the title under Antonio Conte without European commitments. Only 13 players accumulated more than 1,500 minutes in all competitions.

While clubs are now allowed to make five substitutions, only 14 Newcastle United players exceeded the 1,500-minute mark when they qualified for the Champions League in 2022-23. Perhaps the most relevant comparison is Manchester United after they finished third last season without European football. Only 13 players recorded more than 1,500 minutes across all competitions, although they exited both domestic cup competitions at an early stage.

For those on the fringes, including Estevao, a prolonged cup run could aide their chances of turning brief cameos into opportunities that Alonso cannot ignore.

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