Mauricio Pochettino has brand new Chelsea undroppable for Middlesbrough tie

Chelsea are back in action against Middlesbrough on Tuesday with Noni Madueke pushing to return to the team after starting from the bench against Preston North End at the weekend

The Noni Madueke show must go on. He brings excitement, unpredictability and dynamism to Chelsea's attack. Three elements that make football the sport that it is.

The cliche, 'he gets people off their seats', has perhaps never applied more to a player. In a literal sense, too. Sitting in the press seating area in Saturday's win over Preston North End, Madueke started dribbling at the full-back, still very far away from goal, and virtually the whole stadium rose to their feet.

I genuinely do not think if that was anyone else in the Chelsea team – with no disrespect intended whatsoever – the majority of supporters would have stayed sat down. They knew, with the form of Madueke, who had scored in back-to-back matches going into the FA Cup third round tie, he was going to make something happen. Sure enough, he found a teammate and a chance was created.

He, however, had to come off the bench against Preston, with Mauricio Pochettino perhaps having half an eye on Tuesday evening's Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Middlesbrough. Madueke only had a cameo against North End so the winger should be fresh for the match at the Riverside Stadium.

You would assume Cole Palmer starts. That's the sort of impact he has had on the club since moving from Manchester City in the summer transfer window – he is now one of the first names on the team sheet for Pochettino.

Palmer, though, who can play in Madueke's position on the right-hand side, will likely be in the middle behind the No.9. Raheem Sterling grew into the game on Saturday and after a rather underwhelming first-half, he scored a superb free-kick in the second period to give Chelsea a three-goal cushion.

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It means Mykhailo Mudryk may well start on the bench at Boro. Mudryk from the bench, though, has often been a really useful tool for Pochettino, who can utilise his speed against a tiring Middlesbrough team.

Whoever starts out of Mudryk and Sterling – which seems to be the biggest question regarding selection going into the game – one thing is for sure: Madueke has to. Pochettino has been mightily impressed with the 21-year-old in recent weeks, although he is not getting too carried away. And he has warned the player he shouldn't either.

"I am so happy. It took him nearly six months to realise what we expect from him," Pochettino said on Madueke last week.

"Players need to improve and he is improving a lot. His behaviour now, and the way he has committed himself first, and with the rest of the ideas from the club.

"Noni has potential and talent. He needs to do the things and behave in the future if he wants to succeed. That is the platform for everyone and then it is about being right in your mind and being consistent in the way we propose they behave."

The show must go on. The Carabao Cup show must go on. The Madueke show must go on. Chelsea's season – most significantly – has to go on.

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