Chelsea are growing angry with Brendan Rodgers over a third loan that is turning sour under the club’s former reserve team manager and has put a black mark against any faint hopes he may harbour of succeeding Antonio Conte.

Rodgers won his second Scottish Premiership title with Celtic at the weekend, but his handling of Charly Musonda, who was not even in the matchday squad for the 5-0 thrashing of Rangers, has not gone down well at Stamford Bridge.

Musonda was sent to Celtic on an 18-month loan until the end of next season, but could well cut his stay in Scotland short after starting just two league games so far. The 21-year-old has not started a game since February 18.

Rodgers had assured Chelsea and Musonda that the talented Belgian would get plenty of chances to gain experience of first-team football at Celtic. He made similar promises over Josh McEachran, when he was Swansea City manager, and Victor Moses, when he was in charge of Liverpool.

McEachran started only one Premier League game and played a total of 215 minutes under Rodgers for Swansea and, asked what he learned in south Wales, the midfielder said: “Nothing.” Questioned on his opinion of Rodgers, he added: “I’ll pass on that. It was one of those things in life which just didn’t work out.”