Forgotten Chelsea defender banished to the reserves by Mauricio Pochettino after two years without a game

Mauricio Pochettino has used 33 players since taking the reins at Chelsea, but one star in particular has found himself out in the cold.

Malang Sarr is now approaching one year without playing a single game after finding himself out of favour.

The Frenchman's last game was for Monaco against Reims during a loan spell during which he played 17 times.

The Ligue One side were said to have an option to buy the centre-back for €15 million but he ended up returning to Chelsea.

Following on from surgery on a muscular injury in May, he took part in pre-season to begin with him but was then left out of a tour of the United States and then the club's Premier League squad.

A transfer to Le Havre looked to be on the cards on transfer deadline day before it fell through at the last minute, with both Sarr and Chelsea having different versions as to how that happened.

There were potential offers from Besiktas, AEK Athens and the Saudi Pro League but Sarr remains at Chelsea player.

Image: Getty

However, the 25-year-old now finds himself in limbo and forced to train with the Under 21 side, with The Athletic reporting that his friends are "worried" about the state of mind he finds himself in.

Signed on a five-year deal from Nice in 2020, Sarr has become the forgotten man at Chelsea and Pochettino asked, "Who?" when asked about him in a press conference in August.

His first-team locker is no more and he instead gets changed with youngsters in the academy building.

He trains with Chelsea's next generation every day, unless they have a day off - in which case he either works individually with a coach or with a younger crop.

Although eligible to, Sarr hasn't played any games for the Under 21's and those close to him have noticed a shift in mood.

Image: Getty

A source told the outlet: “I have never seen him as low as this. This is the first time I have seen him like this. He tries to change his mental state, but it is hard when you are not playing.

"He is not in the first-team dressing room anymore, he is with the kids in the other building. He feels outside the group. He tries to hide his feelings, but I know him, what he is really feeling."

Sarr still has a year running on his £100,000-a-week at Chelsea.

Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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