Jorrel Hato has heaped praise on Chelsea teammate Joao Pedro, describing him as competitive even in training.

Joao Pedro has been directly involved in more goals (eight) than any other player in the Premier League so far this season, with five goals and three assists to his name.

It is therefore a big relief that the 25-year-old recovered in time for Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, after sustaining a knee injury just before the international break.

He had to miss out on international duty with Brazil to recover, but it has proved to be the right decision, given his brace at the weekend.

His Chelsea teammates are clearly aware of Joao Pedro's importance to the team as well.

In a recent interview, Hato was asked to pick four other players from current and former Blues to build a five-a-side team alongside himself. He chose Petr Cech in goal, Eden Hazard on the left, Estevao Willian on the right, and, unsurprisingly, Joao Pedro up front.

“He’s very competitive,” Hato told the Premier League when asked what people might not know about Joao Pedro in training.

“In a five-a-side, he always wants to win. And when we win, you will know.”

Based on this, it is safe to say Joao Pedro would not be too happy about not being on the winning side in a recent training session. Hato, meanwhile, was on the winning team, alongside Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer.

“Joao links-up plays. He can dribble (past) players as well, and he scores goals,” Hato added about what Joao Pedro brings to the team.

“The most important thing, I would say –  he scores goals. Joao’s my striker.”

Since Chelsea are without European football this season, Alonso has not had to rotate the team as much as the non-regulars would have hoped.

Danny Welbeck still gets minutes in the Carabao Cup, and occasional Premier League opportunities, but Emmanuel Emegha’s wait for a Chelsea debut continues.

It remains unclear whether Emegha is fully fit, but he has been seen in training since the international break. Since making the bench in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup second-round win over Luton Town in late August, the former Strasbourg striker has not made the team sheets.

In early September, Alonso said Emegha and the other young players “need to be patient” and promised that the striker will “be more involved” going forward.

Unfortunately for Emegha, he is clearly the third choice in the pecking order, and like Marc Guiu last season, he must continue to prepare for the rare opportunities that may arise.