Saturday 2 April 2016 18:24, UK
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink believes now Alexandre Pato is injury-free, the Brazilian can begin to show his real quality.
Chelsea beat Aston Villa 4-0 in the lunchtime kick-off, with Pato coming off the bench in the 23rd minute for the injured Loic Remy.
The striker, who joined Chelsea in January on loan from Brazilian club Corinthians, marked his first appearance for the Blues with a goal in the final minute of the first half. After Aly Cissokho had barged into the back of him, Pato picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.
Less than a minute into the second half, Chelsea had a third. Pato and fellow substitute Oscar, on at half-time for Kenedy, combined down the left side of the penalty area and Pedro turned in Oscar's low cross from close range.
And after his strong performance, Hiddink believes Pato is now fully fit and ready to have a successful end to the season.
"It was good to see him coming in," he said.
"I could have brought him in earlier but now with his physical condition he can show his quality and that is why he has come in the team relatively late.
"It was not the most toughest game, you have to take that into consideration, so we will see how he copes against more resistance."
Hiddink also says Pato gets on well with his team-mates, and that they have always felt Pato could score goals.
"He has been suffering, literally, doing extra work with the fitness coach and other coaches and the other players see that and are happy for him so they are relieved to see him score his first goal."
