Injuries are never a good thing for a team, but they can sometimes benefit individual players.
Mason Mount picked up an ankle problem on Tuesday night against Ajax, and that combined with Jorginho’s suspension means Frank Lampard’s ongoing first choice three in midfield will be down to one – Mateo Kovacic.
N’Golo Kante should be back to take one of those other slots, but the third is up for grabs.
Ross Barkley is the natural choice, if he’s fit. With Kovacic sitting in front of the back four and Kante shutting back and forth, Barkley should be able to play in the most attacking role of the three, and hopefully get his season back on track.
A goalscoring showing for England in the last international break was enough to convince Lampard to start him in the following game against Newcastle, but he lasted less than 45 minutes before limping off to be replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
The team’s form since then has been excellent, preventing his return, but now Mount’s injury opens a door for him.
This is the time of the season when suspension and injuries begin to bite, and you need your squad players to step up. Ross couldn’t ask for a better chance.
