"He needs to do" – Richards sets target for Chelsea ace Maresca described as a "special player"

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Micah Richards has been impressed by the recent form of Jadon Sancho and set the winger a target over the second half of the season.

The Blues have made a good start to the season and currently sit fourth and on course to qualify for the Champions League, although they are winless in their last four games and are now just a point ahead of Newcastle in fifth.

Chelsea have a number of great attacking options and were the top scorers in the league, but those goals have dried up recently and they have managed just two goals in their last four matches.

Richards sets target for Sancho

Cole Palmer has been the stand out performer in Chelsea's attack once again this season and he's already scored 13 league goals, whilst Nicolas Jackson has also impressed.

Another attacker who has hit good form is recent weeks is Sancho, who arrived on deadline day in the summer on an initial loan deal from Manchester United, which will become permanent at the end of the season for in the region of £25m.

Sancho made a great start with a man of the match performance on his debut against Bournemouth, which included the assist for Christopher Nkunku's late winner, and he grabbed three assists in his first three games.

The England international then went through a difficult period after being replaced at half time in the defeat to Liverpool where he didn't feature for a month for various reasons before returning to the side and impressing.

The 24-year-old scored his first two goals against Southampton and Tottenham, whilst he provided a brilliant assist for Cole Palmer to score against Crystal Palace.

It feels like Sancho is getting his confidence back and Enzo Maresca has described him as a special player, whilst Richards has set him a target for the remainder of the season.

"Sancho is playing well by the way, he's really got his confidence back," he told The Rest Is Football.

"The manager believes in him. He's believing in himself again. It's good to see that he's had a little bit of adversity in his life, and he's come back. He's come back strong.

"I still think he needs to do it on a consistent basis; we're talking 10-15 games."

Richards isn't wrong and Chelsea will be hoping Sancho can find that consistency over the second half of the season and add to his two goals and four assists.