Enzo Maresca has admitted that Chelsea star Joao Pedro is not the type of forward who is ever going to score 20 goals in a single season.

Pedro enjoyed a brilliant start at Chelsea after his summer arrival from Brighton, with two goals and two assists in his first four top-flight games.

But Pedro hasn’t scored since August with not a single goal contribution across his last five Premier League games for the west London club.

Chelsea head coach Maresca, though, has defended Pedro – insisting he shouldn’t be compared to the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.

Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.

Quizzed about Pedro’s goalscoring drought, Maresca said: ‘For sure, the physical part is important. When you are not 100 per cent [fit], it is difficult to compete in this league.

‘Joao is not a problem at all, he is going to score goals for us, give us assists. Joao Pedro is not...