Mohamed Salah made his first competitive appearance with Chelsea this season after coming off the bench eight minutes from time in the team's 4-2 defeat of Swansea City in Saturday's English Premier League tie.

The Egyptian forward had little time to make an impact but his introduction may move some way to dispelling doubts over his future at Stamford Bridge.

He had a late chance though when he cut inside his marker in stoppage time but his left-foot shot went wide from inside the area.

Reports suggested he would be offloaded in the summer transfer window after he was left out of Chelsea's squad for their opening two Premier League victories over Burnley and Leicester City.

However, coach Jose Mourinho eventually kept faith with him and he was on the bench when Chelsea crushed Everton 6-3 in a thrilling Premier League clash last month.

The lack of regular football with the Blues started to take its toll on him after he produced a couple of below-par performances in Egypt's defeats by Senegal and Tunisia in their opening two African Nations Cup qualifiers.

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