In Focus: Struggling Saul's sorry start to life at Stamford Bridge

Saul Niguez has endured a miserable start to life at Chelsea.

The deadline day loan signing from Atletico Madrid was hauled off 45 minutes into his debut and has not featured in the Premier League since.

His omission from the Spain squad for this week’s Nations League finals rounded off a tough start to life outside his home country.

But is the writing already on the wall for Saul or will he show Chelsea what he is about before the season is over?

Struggle adapting

A poor debut against Aston Villa after just one training session with his new team-mates was understandable for Saul.

But the fact that Tuchel still does not trust him enough to hand him any minutes, outside of a Carabao Cup clash with the same opposition, is a concern.

After outcasts Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley were given a shot ahead of Saul against Southampton, the boss’ comments painted a bleak picture of a player failing to adapt.

Tuchel: "He was very, very close to start. In the end I decided against him because I thought to put him in another high pressing match, against an opponent pressing so high in the centre of the pitch, would it be fair to say, ‘OK now prove it and let’s see if your adaption has gone further?'

"I hesitated a little bit. He does not need to worry. Just work hard and adapt and the chances will come.

"We have only 11 to give a chance. I would like to see it in a positive way.

"If you turn it around of course you have eight players who we didn’t trust today from the beginning. This is a reality. I cannot hide from this reality."

No thriller at Villa

That debut against Dean Smith’s Villa was a tough watch.

Saul's three fouls in 45 minutes showed a player struggling to keep up with the pace as misplaced passes nearly cost his team on more than one occasion.

And on the ball, the 26-year-old was dispossessed three times. On average per 90 mins, Mateo Kovacic is dispossessed 1.47 times, Jorginho 1.45, Ngolo Kante 1.07 and Mason Mount 1.63.

It is little surprise Tuchel has not trusted Saul again.

Tuchel said after the game: "It was a hard decision [to take him off] but he struggled." 

"I take the responsibility for that. I put him into a difficult match after the international break and it was hard to adapt to the physicality and the intensity and the high pressing of Aston Villa. 

"It was hard to adapt for him, to adapt to our system and our principles."

Fringe players firing

The form of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and return of Ross Barkley to the fold have not helped Saul’s cause either.

Both were expected to leave in the summer and when they stayed, neither were expected to feature in the big games.

But while Saul has struggled, the English duo have got their heads down and showed Tuchel what they can do.

As the Spaniard sat on the bench for 90 minutes on Saturday, Loftus-Cheek was picked for his ability to drive through the lines and beat players.

That is not what Saul, something of a pass master in LaLiga for Atleti, is likely to do.

The emergence of Chelsea’s fringe stars has only increased competition and pressure on the Spaniard.

Homesick hero

Reports in Spain suggest Saul is already homesick in London.

Leaving your home country for the first time is never easy, especially after spending 13 years at Atleti.

Saul also spoke in early September about the promises Chelsea made — that they are not being kept currently will only impact his mood further.

He said: "Chelsea has promised me to train in my position [in midfield], to play we will see. To return to certain customs that I do not do now, that is the most important reason for my decision.

"The three midfielders who are playing are at a high level, it will not be easy to play, but if I put my mind to it and fight it, I can get it.

"I'll give it a try and see what happens. Give it my all and help Chelsea so that he [Tuchel] can see the Saul I want to show. Not just a versatile player. They promised me that I would play in my position. It was very important."

Long time to go

But we cannot forget that Saul is far from the first foreign import to struggle in English football.

Plenty of stars have taken time to adapt to the rough and tumble of the Premier League.

Tuchel has opted to use a 3-5-2 formation in recent weeks and former Chelsea star, now a regular BBC 5 Live pundit, Pat Nevin believes that will help him.

Speaking prior to the Southampton game, he said: "Another thing that becomes clear now is that the recruitment of Saul also makes more sense when you want to play three in the central midfield area and they have to play at a ruinously high tempo.

"They must get rest games in this style, so another midfielder is good planning.

"I think the slight doubt over the weekend’s tactics was a bit early. This could be the direction we take longer term, and certainly in at least some games going forward."

Saul will be desperate for that prediction to come true because as it stands, the Blues will be reluctant to buy him permanently for £34million next summer.