THOMAS TUCHEL revealed struggling Saul Niguez has been used as a wing-back in Chelsea training.
The midfielder signed on loan this summer from Atletico Madrid but after seven games he has struggled.
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On his debut against Aston Villa in September and in his most recent game at Watford, Niguez was hooked at half-time.
But with Ben Chilwell, 24, out injured and Marcos Alonso, 30, Chelsea’s only other recognised wing-back, Tuchel said the Spaniard has been tested in defence.
He said: “I think he could play in a wing-back role.
“We sometimes do this in training, that’s why we have the impression he could be a good fit. Maybe in the next games, we have to try it.”
Niguez, 27, has played on the left side of midfield before, but never in the backline.
He was subbed off for Thiago Silva, 37, at Vicarage Road with centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, 22, moved to midfield as Chelsea eventually won 2-1.
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But afterwards, his performance came under question by boss Tuchel.
He said: “I don’t know where he goes from this performance but he was on a yellow card so we had two options.
“We could have taken Marcos off who also had a yellow card and try Saul as a wing-back.
“I had this in my mind before the game, if something happened to Marcos.
“But I thought maybe it was not the right match to try things with new positions so it was [subbing] him to change the shape a little bit and have Thiago on the pitch with his organising.
“Having Trevoh on the number six who is more physical – unfortunately Trevoh injured himself and we ended up with Ruben on the single six.
“But it was a tactical decision.”
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