Chelsea fans have been discussing who the most underrated player in Xabi Alonso’s squad is after Owen Hargreaves described Pedro Neto as Chelsea’s “unsung hero”. Here’s why it is Josh Acheampong.

There are some serious candidates. Neto reminded Chelsea fans what he can do on Saturday, dedicating both of his goals to Portugal manager Jorge Jesus. He has been more of a wing-back and still performed.

Pedro Neto has been hailed as an 'unsung hero' for Chelsea. Who else in Xabi Alonso's team is UNDERRATED?!

Jordan Henderson’s running stats have proven his importance to the team after arriving on a free transfer. Levi Colwill is slowly improving, and Jorrel Hato was excellent on Saturday. But Acheampong is the future.

Why Josh Acheampong is Chelsea’s most underrated player

Chelsea fans know all about Acheampong. But those not of a Blues persuasion will know little about the Cobham academy graduate, whom Enzo Maresca once said he’d fallen in love with after a European clash.

Last season, especially under Liam Rosenior, Acheampong struggled to play. But in this 3-4-2-1 system, which switches to a hybrid 4-4-2 formation, Acheampong is thriving. On Talking Points, fans think so too.

So, Acheampong is playing well. So is Neto; so is Henderson, and Hato was exceptional against Everton. The difference is, Acheampong has had to work harder than his teammates to break into this side.

Chelsea are always active in the market, and the turnover of players is relentless. Every summer, the likes of Acheampong fear for their place, and yet he has come through the academy to start for the Blues.

Acheampong is going to be one of Chelsea’s best, and he hasn’t cost them a penny. His journey into the side is underrated; he will be an England player, and he is a future £100m star who didn’t cost a penny.

Acheampong is so good; Fofana will be considering his future

Chelsea’s back three, or four with Pep Chavarria or Jorrel Hato on the left, is settled. Acheampong is a defensive right-back, or right-sided centre-back, alongside Maxence Lacroix and left-footed Levi Colwill.

That leaves Wesley Fofana as the odd one out. The France international is not the type of player to take kindly to being left on the bench; the former Leicester man, who cost £70m, has had his attitude issues.

But as Acheampong continues to shine – he was one of seven untouchables aside from new signings in the summer – he will remain in the starting XI. Not only is he underrated, but he is homegrown too.

Ultimately, Acheampong is underrated in terms of his form on the pitch, but his cost-saving break into the senior side and his homegrown nature make him the most underrated player in the squad.

For that reason, he is going nowhere. He is the future of this Chelsea defence; that means Fofana will be looking for a way out in the not-too-distant future. His agents offered him to Barcelona in the summer.