Marc Cucurella had already made the same journey to Stamford Bridge from Brighton before the season began and he has been handed 15 games as a Blue under Potter’s management.

However with the left-sided player used as a substitute at Fulham in his most recent appearance, and then remaining on the bench for last weekend’s win over Crystal Palace, Potter was asked in his Friday press conference whether Cucurella is slipping down the pecking order for selection.

‘No, not necessarily,’ the head coach replied.

‘With some players there's some dips in form, and there are different solutions, different options in the game. Lewis Hall has done well. We have to manage his games and his role because he's a young player just starting out.

‘Marc had a lot to deal with in terms of how you settle into a team, how you settle into a club, into a new group. I think it's been challenging for him.’

Potter revealed that the 24-year-old Spaniard has also had some matters off the pitch to deal with.

‘Family-wise,’ he added. ‘That has been difficult for him as well. So there's many factors.

‘Sometimes it's simplistic. You just see the guy on the pitch and you have a verdict on him, but there's all sorts of things going on in his life.

‘Obviously I know Marc well. I know Mark at his best and he is a top player.’