It’s Time for Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi to Show He’s Worth His Transfer Fee

There’s a cliche about injured players and when they hit the comeback trail. When they get back into the starting lineup and have an impact on their team’s fortunes, the usual line about being like a new signing is rolled out.

Michy Batshuayi hasn’t been injured this season. He’s just been absent, a factor largely down to Diego Costa’s brilliance. We’ve seen the young Belgian fleetingly—just 13 times all term. He’s started a mere two games, each coming in the EFL Cup, and since the beginning of November the young Belgian has played just 12 minutes of football.

Sold on his physicality and the goal he scored in his second Premier League appearance against Watford way back in August, Chelsea fans have been hungry for more from him. Costa’s form has been a big factor in preventing that, yet equally his manager, Antonio Conte, hasn’t shied away from the problems Batshuayi has faced.

📸 Preparing for Bournemouth. Two days to go… 💪 pic.twitter.com/agAKsvrSuy

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 24, 2016

Now that all has to change. With Costa out for Boxing Day’s visit of Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge, Batshuayi has to become a big asset for his manager and his teammates. He has to impress; he has to give Chelsea something they haven’t had all season by showing he’s the ideal back-up to Costa.

Right now, we simply don’t know if he is. The debate that surrounds Batshuayi is too subjective as it’s based on impressions of reputation rather than performances, which is something Conte has hinted at when discussing the situation he has faced this term since Batshuayi’s £32 million arrival from Marseille.

“I spoke about Michy in the post-match [after Crystal Palace, when Costa picked up his suspension] and said that it’s not easy to arrive in this league and …

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