Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been backed to burst into life this season by Andriy Shevchenko after his stuttering first campaign at the club.

The talented forward was coveted by a number of top clubs last January but the Blues ultimately won the race, fending off Arsenal with a stunning £89million bid.

Ukrainian Mudryk was also handed an eight-and-a-half-year contract in a statement of intent, though he has since struggled to live up to the significant outlay.

However, he has shown promising glimpses under new boss Mauricio Pochettino during pre-season and Shevchenko believes his countryman will display his quality.

‘I’m very excited, especially because the Ukrainian player, Mudryk, is there,’ Shevchenko told talkSPORT ahead of Game4Ukraine at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been backed to enjoy an improved second season

Mudryk was signed for almost £90million but failed to score during a mixed first campaign

Andriy Shevchenko believes the forward will kick on after looking sharp during pre-season

‘I’ve been looking at a couple of friendly games Chelsea have been playing in America and I think he’s getting there. His team are starting to play very good football. It’s going to be an exciting season for Chelsea.’

Shevchenko then added: ‘Expectation, it’s very high for him. The club spent very important money and signed him for the long term. Eight years.

‘That meant the club believes in him. Obviously, he had a very slow start but I’ve been looking at him in pre-season games, he looks sharp.

‘I wish all the best for him to start the season very well and show all his quality.’

Mudryk was unable to replicate the heroics from Shakhtar Donetsk that earned him his high-profile move, having failed to score in 17 appearances in all competitions.

Nevertheless, his stunning goal against Brighton may offer Chelsea hope that he will kick on after finding his feet, with Mudryk himself insisting there is more to come.

Mudryk scored a stunning goal in the victory over Brighton in the USA, his first for the club

Ben Chilwell believes Mudryk could fulfil his ‘endless potential’ under Mauricio Pochettino

‘I feel happy for all the work I put into this goal,’ he said. ‘It is not all my potential. It is only 20 per cent. I feel good because playing under Pochettino, our manager.

‘It is nice, it is enjoyable and it is a new team which is also enjoyable.’

Team-mate Ben Chilwell has echoed a similar sentiment, telling The Athletic: ‘With Misha, I just see endless potential that hasn’t been fulfilled yet.

‘I’ve told him that – I’m not just saying that. I’ve told him he hasn’t fulfilled that yet for one reason or another.

‘I had a conversation with him after training in the changing room, because he’s been on fire the last few days and obviously was on fire in the game against Brighton, and I just said he needs to keep that up now for the whole season.’