With Chelsea restricted by a transfer embargo this season, the 20-year-old looks set to continue the influential role he enjoyed under manager Frank Lampard when the pair was together at Derby last season.
He scored 14 goals during that loan spell as the Rams reached the Championship play-off final and, in Lampard’s first match in charge of the Blues on home soil, again proved himself to be an attacking force.
His first goal was a gift – tapping in on the line after being teed up by Michy Batshuayi soon after coming on as a half-time substitute.
He had more work to do for his second, collecting the ball inside the box and driving a powerful effort beyond Reading goalkeeper Sam Walker.
Lampard will have been less impressed by his side’s defending, with two weeks to go until they begin their Premier League campaign against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 11 August.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve made decisions yet in terms of selection for those early games or what the squad looks like because that’s a line and I don’t want to draw that line just yet,” he said.
“There’s not a player who hasn’t pushed themselves and shown me everything but these are decisions I have to make. They’re not absolutely clear decisions but I’ll make them in due course.”
Chelsea have two friendlies remaining as Lampard searches for his best starting line-up. They travel to Austria to play Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday before completing their pre-season preparations in Germany against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
