Pedro Neto: Chelsea’s underrated star inspires again with goal against Burnley [video] | OneFootball

Neto now has 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 Premier League games

It is well-established that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is a huge fan of Pedro Neto, making the Portuguese winger an undisputed starter in his Blues side in the Premier League.

With such backing, the former Braga winger is now beginning to add consistency in his output, affecting games at an increasingly regular rate. Neto scored just once in his first ten outings this season, but a stooping header at Burnley 3 goals in his last 5 appearances in the English top flight, with two assists also coming during that period.

Neto has started every one of Chelsea’s 12 matches in the league so far, as Maresca’s men find themselves in 2nd place behind London rivals Arsenal. At 25 and with the injuries that plagued much of his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers seemingly behind him, Neto is playing with a confidence which will hopefully carry him into his peak years at Stamford Bridge.

“He’s top, he's very humble and working hard,’ Maresca said of the Seleção man last month. “He's a very important player for us, and we are very happy with Pedro. He's exactly the same as other players – he needs to be always 100 per cent, because in the moment that you drop a little bit, mentally or physically, in this league, it's complicated.”

Chelsea host Barcelona on Tuesday in the Champions League and Neto is likely to feature, but as usual his positioning will keep opponents guessing. Although primarily used on the right, Neto has been deployed on the left as well as more centrally, meaning Barca will have a tough time predicting the home side’s attack, as the sides meet with each on 7 points in the CL league phase.