Chelsea may not be in Premier League action until Sunday this weekend but one of their loanees has got the club’s supporters talking.
The man in question is midfield star Conor Gallagher, who is currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion.
The central-midfielder played a key role in helping the Baggies record a vital 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon at the Hawthorns, claiming the assist for Kyle Bartley’s 11th minute winner to seal a huge three points in the Baggies’ fight to avoid relegation.
He swung over a corner for the former Swansea City and Leeds United man to connect with, securing a first home win under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce.
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But it wasn’t just his assist that earned him plenty of plaudits. The midfielder was aggressive in his play, looking to retrieve the ball back at any given moment, and aimed to try and keep the Baggies’ midfield ticking.
Despite West Brom’s struggles this term, Gallagher has shown signs of promise, cementing himself as a regular in the Baggies’ midfield, after impressing on loan at both Charlton Athletic and Swansea City last season.
Admittedly, Gallagher’s statistics do not make for great reading on first view, as he has scored just two goals and claimed two assists in 20 Premier League appearances this term, but his all-round game is about much more than creating chances and scoring goals.
He is a box-to-box midfielder capable of completing a variety of tasks.
However, his match-winning assist against Brighton took his tally of assists to two in his last three games, suggesting that he does have the ability to perform consistently at this level.
And his showing against Graham Potter’s Seagulls, who were guilty of missing two penalties on an action-packed afternoon at The Hawthorns, has sparked a reaction from some Chelsea supporters who very impressed by what they saw.
So much so, some have taken to social media to admit that they would like to see him handed an opportunity at Stamford Bridge in the future.
Below, football.london has taken a close look at what some have had to say on Twitter.
Considering Gallagher had never played in the Premier League until this season, he has adapted to a higher level well, becoming a key figure in the Baggies’ fight against the drop.
Whilst he still has a lot to learn, the signs are promising that he could one day force his way into the first-team set-up at Stamford Bridge.
Since joining West Brom on a season-long loan deal last summer, Gallagher has racked up 22 appearances in all competitions, with 20 of those coming in the league.