“Give him the shirt and let him play” – Glenn Hoddle urges Maresca to unleash Chelsea star | OneFootball

Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle believes Pedro Neto is a top player and has called for him to be in the team every week.

Neto was Chelsea’s most expensive summer signing, with the Blues paying an initial £51.4m to Wolves for the Portugal international.

The 24-year-old has had a mixed start to his Chelsea career, but despite showing glimpses of his quality his recent performances have come in for criticism.

Hoddle a big fan of Neto

Neto has two goals and two assists from 22 Premier League appearances, with 12 of those coming as starts, and Chelsea certainly would have expected more.

The winger can operate down both the left and right wing, and Jason Cundy has stated he’d like to see Neto tried down the middle with the current striker crisis at the club.

Neto is a proven quantity in the Premier League and showed his quality on a regular basis for Wolves, but is yet to show that consistency in a Chelsea shirt.

Neto needs to step up over the remainder of the season. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The Portuguese is set to have a big role to play for the remainder of the season following Noni Madueke’s hamstring injury, meaning Neto and Jadon Sancho are the only fit senior wingers.

Teenager Tyrique George could be in line for further opportunities given the lack of options currently, but Hoddle has backed Neto to step up.

“Neto is a top player, he can play on the left side, but he is lethal coming onto his left foot from the right,” he told The Athletic.

“If he knows he is in the team every week, you will see him grow into the player he was at Wolves.

“We have seen a few big moments, but he has not been consistent because he has been in and out of the side.

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“Give him the shirt and let him play on the right flank.”

Neto will likely start against Aston Villa on Saturday evening and that would be the perfect time to put in a big performance.