Ross Barkley completed a £15m move from Everton at the beginning of the year, and having not played a single game since the start of the season, Chelsea organised a closed-door friendly against QPR, so the 24-year-old can have some match fitness before he makes his Chelsea debut.
Antonio Conte will be delighted with the progress of the midfielder as he bagged a brace in his first outing for Chelsea.
Conte had revealed that a friendly will be organised for the young midfielder, as he wasn’t eligible to play against Norwich.
Conte said: “We are preparing a friendly game for him during this week, and then we will see his physical condition. But I’m very happy for his commitment and physical condition. He could be ready for the next game, or for the next game.”
And while one game won’t be enough to boost his match fitness, Barkley’s road to recovery is on the right path, as he scored a brace while wearing the number 8 jersey.