Wieke Kaptein grew up in Twente, in the east of the Netherlands, and cut her cloth in the competitive game at the region’s big club. As a 15-year-old, she debuted for FC Twente in the Champions League, and it is in that competition she will return to play her childhood club as a Chelsea player.

Understandably, then, much of the pre-match focus has centred on Kaptein. The local media, in particular, are very excited someone they loved writing about is returning home. They posed questions about the midfielder to Sonia Bompastor and Kadeisha Buchanan on the eve of the game, and both were only too happy to offer an appraisal of Kaptein’s early days as a Blue.

‘She’s settled well in England, London and at Chelsea,’ said Bompastor.

‘I am so happy to have her in my squad. She has a lot of energy as a person and as a player. She is someone who always wants to have some advice from the staff and the coaches. She’s listening to us and she will be a really important player for us for the season.

‘Even if she is young, she already has a lot of experience as a player; she has been playing with the national team. Moving to a new country, where the league is maybe more competitive than the one she is used to playing in, is a change, but she is adapting herself to that in a really positive way.

‘She has already started some games, no matter her age. She is performing, and that’s the most important thing.'

Asked if Kaptein would feature from the off tonight, Bompastor kept her cards close to her chest. ‘Maybe!’ was her one-word reply. We await her starting line-up with interest.

Another player who will hope to be named in it for the third time this season is Buchanan. With a decade more experience than Kaptein to call upon, she has been happy to help the new arrival settle on and off the pitch.

‘She’s new to England and to the team, so the players that have been here longer definitely give her some pointers and help her along the way,’ said Buchanan. ‘We all as a team help each other.

‘She’s a unique player and person. She’s cool, quite laid back. She shows that on the field how she’s very composed. She’s a fun, young talent.’

Tonight, Kaptein will be aiming to remind her former teammates and fans exactly why they loved her so much.