Ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes there is potential for Gonzalo Higuain to improve further following his goal against Fulham yesterday.

The former Blues boss feels the 31-year-old is still lacking a yard of pace which he has put down to the player not being 100% fit:

“The only thing I can say about Higuain because he was my player at Real Madrid, is that he knows how to score a goal. Is he in his best physical condition? I don’t think so. I think he’s missing a little bit of a click in the explosion in the first metres, normally Gonzalo is quicker and sharper and he is.”

“But he knows how to score a goal, and those two movements for his shot [goal against Fulham] are movements of a good striker. He knows how to move and how to create space for himself, so yes, he can score goals in the Premier League.”

Higuain performed well at Craven Cottage, opening the scoring for Chelsea. He could have doubled his tally before half-time but he blasted a chance over the bar when through on goal.

Since arriving on loan from Juventus, the Argentine has shown glimpses of what he can do. He has three goals in five Premier League games which is certainly not a bad return.

However, there are question marks over whether Higuain is the long-term solution for the club up front.

As Mourinho mentions, he is a consummate finisher, but he isn’t getting any younger, and it is up for debate whether the Blues will make his move permanent in the summer.