Chelsea star compared to Hazard is actually “closer to Neymar” and could be world class soon

We said it from the very day he debuted – there hasn’t been an attacking signing at Chelsea that fans are as excited about as Estevao Willian since Eden Hazard rocked up in 2012.

That hype would have faded fast if he had disappointed on the pitch, but he hasn’t. He’s been great, and former Blue Pat Nevin has been speaking about him and has made some pretty huge comparisons.

Attacker “closer to Neymar” and full of tricksEstevao Willian in action for Brazil. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images)“Style-wise, Chelsea have got this long list from Gianfranco Zola, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata was much much loved down there. It goes all the way back to Charlie Cooke. Chelsea have got a whole list of these little creative players that they absolutely love,” Nevin said in quotes picked up by Goal.com.

“Estevao will be one of them. If Chelsea treat him right, if they stick by him, if he doesn’t get injured, he will be in that pantheon. There’s a couple of ifs in there, but he’s definitely capable. Which one of them is he more like? He’s probably closer to Neymar. He’s not really like them. But creative, small, playing for Chelsea and could be world class very soon. He’s up there and he should be one of them because he’s good enough.”

We really hope these comparisons don’t start to look silly, but we’d be lying if we said we thought he was wrong.

In other news…We’re expecting Estevao to start from the bench on Saturday. Despite two good showings for Brazil, he needs to be eased back in gently. We have a feeling who might be used in attack in the meantime.

But Buonanotte has help on the way. There’s very positive news about Liam Delap, who our writer Simon Phillips says is ahead of expectations in his recovery from injury.