Alexandre Pato ready to be 'unleashed' against Stoke City, says Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink

Ready: Guus Hiddink suggests Alexandre Pato could play against Stoke
Stephen Pond/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj8 March 2016

Guus Hiddink has admitted Alexandre Pato is ready to be "unleashed" on Saturday in what will be his first game as a Chelsea player should he come on at Stamford Bridge.

Pato has not yet made an appearance for the reigning Premier League champions since signing for the club on a short-term loan deal in January due to the need to work on his fitness.

The Brazilian made the bench for Chelsea's Premier League match away to Norwich City on Tuesday, which they won 2-1, but failed to get any minutes as Bertrand Traore and Diego Costa were preferred in attack.

But Hiddink has suggested Pato could get his first outing as a Blues player on Saturday when Chelsea host Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

When asked whether the striker is ready to be unleashed, Hiddink said: "Unleashed? Yes. That’s a good term for him.

"He’s on the bench. If he was not able to play then he would not be on the bench."

Hiddink will be without John Terry and Pedro for the game with the Potters as the pair recover from hamstring injuries while Kurt Zouma and Radamel Falcao also remain sidelined.

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