Xabi Alonso has claimed Chelsea’s man of the moment, Pedro Neto, is just as important as any of their deadly front three.

The Blues have been reliant on Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers to deliver the goods in front of goal so far this season, but none of them scored or assisted in Saturday’s match at Everton.

Instead, it was right wing-back Neto who scored twice in the second half to earn Chelsea a 2-0 win that also brought them their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months to the day since a victory over Brentford by the same scoreline that was Liam Rosenior’s first league match in charge.

Neto has previously played as a winger but has been remodelled as a wing-back in the three-at-the-back formation played under Alonso since he came in as manager in July.

“He is as important as the rest,” said Alonso, when asked how important he is when compared with Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro.

Cole Palmer drew a blank at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

PA

“Pedro [Neto] has great qualities. He is always a threat. He has a great competitive level. He can run, can go one-v-one, can score goals.

“[I am] really happy for him. And Morgan, Joao and Cole, even though they didn't score, they played a great game and I’m really happy with that.”

Alonso explained the importance of Chelsea’s win at Everton, a victory that took them up to fourth in the table.

“We are very happy with the result, with the performance. We needed one of these wins away where we have played very professionally and very seriously. We were solid and it was a very good game.

“We looked in control of the game. There were moments, for sure, when we had to defend. Especially first half. But overall the team looked mature. They were knowing what to do in each moment, and that happened in the second half. After that, we were good with the ball, created chances, and conceded not much.”

Alonso, 44, added: “To win away is always tough. And we got a clean sheet. We knew it was a matter of time and finally we got it. We need to keep working. It’s just one game. We need to get many more clean sheets.”