This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
Michy Batshuayi, the Belgium international forward, has been struggling to convince Chelsea boss Frank Lampard that he deserves a place in the starting line-up.
Despite scoring eight goals for club and country this season, Batshuayi has not been trusted to start a single game in the Premier League or the Champions League.
On Wednesday, Chelsea will travel to play Valencia, a team Batshuayi spent a few months on loan from August 2018 to January 2019, where he only found the net three times during his time in Spain.
Chelsea will be through to the Champions League knockout phase if they win, but Batshuayi will be lucky to feature from the start.
Since joining Chelsea for around £33 million ($43 million) from French side Marseille in 2016, Batshuayi has been forced to play second fiddle to forwards such as Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata.
He has been farmed out on loan to Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, and Crystal Palace over the past couple of years after being deemed surplus to requirements.
Despite his eye for a goal, Lampard appears to see him as more of an impact substitute rather than a starter, and his struggles have led to speculation that he might be in line for a move in the January transfer window.
However, the Belgian recently declared his "love" for the Premier League club despite his frustrations, saying, "I don't know why, because I have never been a full-fledged starter, but Chelsea is my club, that's where I feel at home. It's a club I love deeply."
"I don't know why, because I have never been a full-fledged starter, but Chelsea is my club, that's where I feel at home. It's a club I love deeply." - Michy Batshuayi, RTBF
