🔺Estevao ready for more minutes?
🔺Gross sums up Brighton's intensity
🔺A player to watch this weekend

Is Estevao ready to explode?

In the period between firing past Senne Lammens and having his goal ruled out by VAR, Estevao went over to the touchline to embrace Xabi Alonso. He had been made to wait for a first Premier League start of the season. But clearly there are no hard feelings.

Estevao's peripheral role in the opening months of the campaign frustrated Chelsea supporters, who felt his return to the side against Manchester United was overdue. On the evidence of his performance, he is determined to make up for lost time.

The 19-year-old did not get his goal in the end. But it was not for a lack of trying. He had the ball in the net twice, including the emphatic, near-post finish that preceded his hug with Alonso.

Nobody had more shots or touches in the opposition box in the game. Nobody caused United more problems or earned a louder reception from the home fans at Stamford Bridge. Estevao was a constant threat and offered impressive set-piece delivery too.

"He has had the best response, to show he deserves more, that he was prepared," said Alonso in his press conference. "Very happy for him. He deserves to enjoy this game."

Alonso felt Estevao needed time to get up to speed physically following an injury-hit first season at the club. But it was notable that the manager praised his off-the-ball work against United. "He fought really hard and at the end he was tired," he added.

It was only the second time that Estevao has played more than 75 minutes in a Premier League game. Tracking data showed he hit his highest totals for high-speed runs and running distance, offering encouragement that he is getting fitter and stronger.

It remains to be seen whether Alonso will trust him in what is likely to be a more physically demanding game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, live on Sky Sports on Sunday. But Estevao's chemistry with Cole Palmer might tempt him.

Estevao revealed Palmer told him they were going to do "great things together" before his arrival last summer. But injuries impacted their time on the pitch. Inauspiciously, Chelsea only won one of the seven games they both started last season.

But they certainly enjoyed each other's company last weekend. Palmer has typically gravitated towards his close friend Morgan Rogers, who has played off the left-hand side this season. The pair's relationship means they have a pre-existing understanding.

But he combined more often with Estevao to his right against United, exchanging a total of 16 passes. For context, in his previous start against Spurs, Palmer only exchanged two passes with Pedro Neto, the player who occupied the same position as Estevao.

It was striking how often Chelsea attacked down Estevao's flank.

Their attacking thirds show a roughly even split between their left and right sides in the first eight games of the season. But the percentage of attacks down the right shot up from 36 per cent to 52 per cent against United. Estevao ripped into them, supported by Josh Acheampong at right-back as well as Palmer.

The rapturous reception he received at Stamford Bridge suggests Chelsea fans will be hoping see more of him in the weeks and months ahead. Estevao is of course a thrilling talent. His attacking thrust helped make up for Joao Pedro's absence against United.

His total of 12 touches in the opposition box was more than Joao Pedro, or indeed any Chelsea player, has managed in a Premier League game this season. "He was a threat, he created many chances and situations where we could score," added Alonso.

Estevao only has two goals and two assists across his 29 Premier League appearances but his threat has been consistent. His combined average of 0.55 xG and xA per 90 minutes is the second-highest among Chelsea players since the start of last term.

The underlying data suggests he is unfortunate his numbers for goals and assists are not higher. But Joao Pedro's return from injury will soon increase the competition for places in Chelsea's attack.

Neto was moved into the false nine role against United but the Portugal international has also earned praise from Alonso for his performances on the right-hand side.

Estevao may have more to do to usurp Neto, who has contributed three goals and an assist in the Premier League so far.

The Brazilian has also been a victim of the failure to qualify for Europe. Much of his best work in his first season came in the Champions League, in which he scored three goals in seven appearances. Those opportunities are not there this term.

The lighter schedule has its advantages for the manager as he attempts to implement his way of playing and re-establish Chelsea's place among Premier League's top four. But finding a way to incorporate Estevao on a more frequent basis should be a priority after a timely reminder of his considerable quality.

Brighton's running power

Brighton host Brentford in another game live on Sky Sports on Sunday having claimed a third big scalp of the season last weekend. Their 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium owed a lot to their incredible physical intensity.

Fabian Hurzeler's side bested the hosts in all the key physical metrics, according to Premier League tracking data. Their total of 522 high-speed runs was the highest by any side in a game this season, just ahead of Arsenal's 508 in their 1-0 win against Liverpool.

Their intensity was summed up by Pascal Gross, who covered a staggering a 13.4km, the highest distance by any player in a Premier League game this season. It was all the more impressive on the back of a trip to Anfield and a Carabao Cup trip to the Etihad Stadium in the space of six days beforehand.

Player Radar: Who else to keep an eye on

Nicolas Jackson faces Manchester United on Sunday having scored three times in his last two Premier League appearances and eight times in all competitions since joining Aston Villa in the summer. Michael Carrick could do with a striker like him.

Seven Premier League games are live on Sky Sports between this weekend, starting with Everton vs Coventry City on Friday at 8pm.

Nottingham Forest then host Man City at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Sunday brings five live games, with four kicking off simultaneously at 2pm: Brighton vs Brentford, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth and Sunderland vs Chelsea.

The live coverage concludes with Man Utd vs Aston Villa at 4.30pm.

Read last week's Radar column

Last week's column was a defence of Kai Havertz, who duly bounced back from his misses against Fleetwood Town with a winning goal for Arsenal against Liverpool.