VICTOR MOSES: A PLAYER REBORN

The Chelsea forward has gone from perennial loanee to key man under Antonio Conte

When Victor Moses signed for Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012, not so long after Chelsea's triumph in the Uefa Champions League final, it was indication of the player’s incredible ambition.

The hunger and drive to prove himself at a higher level could only benefit Chelsea and the Super Eagles, but while the Kaduna-born winger had a decent first season with The Blues, playing 43 games in all competitions, and finding the back of the net on 10 occasions, that tally remains his highest return in club football.

The return of Jose Mourinho in 2013 threw a spanner in the works of his development; for the next three seasons, he was shunted out on loan, unwanted by the Portuguese coach.

Loan moves to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United proved unsuccessful as injuries and subsequently loss of form undermined the deals.

At Liverpool, even though he bagged a goal on his debut against Swansea, the form of Raheem Sterling prevented him from making more appearances, and while he eventually featured in 22 games, only nine were starts.

He returned to Chelsea, but no sooner had preseason ended than he was farmed out on loan, this time to Stoke City, and while he scored four times in the Potteries, injuries again hampered his progress.

After another brilliant preseason, he was sent out on loan to West Ham United, where he made 26 appearances.

The highlight was a goal against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium early in his stay at the club, but a hamstring injury sustained in November ruled him out for two months. Again, fitness problems had prevented Moses from having the impact he might have done.

With Mourinho in charge at Chelsea, there seemed to be no way back for Moses, and despite impressing regularly in preseason, and progress appeared to serve only to put the Nigerian back on the loan market, rather than the first team.

Under Mourinho, Moses made only one appearance—in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal in August 2015—and even that was an eight-minute cameo.

Moses has repaid the faith placed in him by the Italian manager and has responded with brilliant performances. His direct running and hard work has played him into the first team, and prompted renewed optimism about the player’s prospects in West London.

He's rewarded Antonio Conte with three goals so far this season, with two of those coming in the Premier League against Burnley and Leicester City, and the other in the second round of the EFL Cup against Bristol Rovers.

Source: goal