Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has maintained that Marc Cucurella remains a crucial part of his plans, despite the left-back’s disappointment over the failure of his deadline day transfer to Manchester United.

Cucurella has only featured for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup this season with Pochettino preferring to play Levi Colwill as a left-back.

Asked about the defender’s chances of forcing his way back into his Premier League starting XI ahead of Monday’s west London derby at Fulham, Pochettino said: “I wasn’t involved but he’s our player and I’ve been clear: he has chances, he can play.

Marc is going to work hard. It’s really clear. he’s in our plan and if he deserves to play, he will play.”