Defender Axel Tuanzebe doesn’t want too many plaudits or accolades at this early stage of the season despite his impressive start to the campaign, according to boss Kieran McKenna.
Tuanzebe, 26, has been one of the Blues’ top performers in the opening weeks of the campaign playing in the hybrid right-back role with Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler making reference to the DR Congo international’s pace limiting Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma during last week’s 0-0 draw at the Amex Stadium.
However, McKenna says Tuanzebe, a free transfer from Manchester United just over a year ago, isn’t getting carried away but his impressive return to the top flight.
"He’s doing well. It’s very early, I don’t think he wants too many plaudits or accolades yet, it’s very early,” he said.
"But we know, everyone’s delighted with the trajectory Axel’s on, everyone knows what a difficult couple of years he had before he arrived here, he was in a difficult position last summer.
"He arrived here after the transfer window but built himself up well and developed physically, built up his robustness and his resilience over the first half of last season and trained really well.
"He wanted to play regularly earlier than he did, but stayed patient, stayed disciplined in himself, stayed as a key part of the group and got a big run of games in the second half of the season, very often playing in a slightly different role than he had done previously, but one we felt could really suit him.
"He finished the season strongly and he’s taken that into this season. He’s now an important member of the group. I think he’s someone who the boys see as a leader now within the squad.
"And we’re really happy with where he’s at, but he’s four games in. I know he wants to have a big season, a successful season and help the team, so he knows it’s very early days and, like all the other players, he’s still got a lot more to come.”