Why Mykhailo Mudryk was substituted at half-time of Chelsea's draw with Fulham

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has explained why he substituted Mykhailo Mudryk midway through their 0-0 draw at home to Fulham on Friday night.

The Blues put out a new-look side following another transfer window of heavy spending, with Mudryk making his first start for the club having impressed off the bench against Liverpool last time out.

However, after a slow first half against west London neighbours Fulham - registering zero shots, creating zero chances and completing zero take-ons - the Ukrainian was hauled off at half-time and replaced by fellow January signing Noni Madueke.

After the final whistle, Potter explained why Mudryk was hooked so early.

Firstly speaking to the Sky Sports cameras, Potter said: "It's always that way with young players [having a drop off], he has had a really heavy cold this week. He’s suffered a bit with that and felt a bit heavy legged and we didn’t want to take any risks with him. We’re still in the process of building up his minutes, he’s had a long break and that was the decision there."

He reiterated this to the written press soon after, stating: "He's had a heavy cold this week. He was feeling heavy legged at half-time and we didn't want to take a chance with him, he is still in a process where we are building up his minutes because of the break he's been on in Ukraine."

Listen now as Scott Saunders hosts Graeme Bailey and Toby Cudworth to wrap up the January transfer window and discuss Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Marcel Sabitzer, Hakim Ziyech's failed PSG move and more!

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