Mo Salah

I expressed a concern two months ago that Mo Salah just might be the latest in a growing list of footballers who played better against Chelsea than they ever did when playing for the Blues. Nothing in the intervening weeks has yet reassured me that the Egyptian maestro won't be the latest recruit to emulate Chris Sutton, or Fernando Torres. Why Mourinho continues to overlook Salah is a mystery.

Could it be that just as Di Matteo didn't seem to rate Marko Marin, so Jose has decided that Salah is still a "work in progress" which is a modern-day euphemism for "rubbish." Surely the apparent speed of Salah would render him a potential game-changer if he was at least introduced much earlier from the bench - on the rare occasions that he is even deemed worthy of a place on the bench. Presumably Mourinho is not yet confident that Salah will be the industrious grafter who will track back when we have lost possession. Otherwise I am left to draw the conclusion that Salah is now viewed by his manager as the luxury item which looked great on the shop shelf but which proved to be a terrible disappointment when it was brought home and taken out of its fancy packaging. Can Mourinho or someone at the club kindly enlighten us regarding the progress or lack of it from the north African ace. It is after all 'funny' in a non-humorous sort of way how Salah has been able to grace the Europa League and Champions League in quick succession and yet remain surplus to requirements in the English Premiership.

With Salah cup-tied for our European fixtures, Saturday past was an ideal opportunity to have blooded him against the Villains of Villa Park. God knows Chelsea seem increasingly bereft of creativity and pace, not to mention goals. Could Salah not be introduced into the fray to break the impasse and arouse Chelsea from their complacent slumber?

The José apologists will urge me to be patient, but I am increasingly getting the feeling that Salah will be our next acquisition to be farmed out on a season's loan next August to either Vitesse Arnhem, or Liverfools. As Guy Doleman stated in 'The Ipcress File': "How very tiresome."