Victor Moses always had talent, but his transformation to table-topping wing-back will have caught a few former team-mates by surprise. Moses scored the winning goal as Chelsea defeated Tottenham, once again, at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. This was his seventh successive Premier League match and he was finally able to state afterwards: "I feel like I have found a home here. It's my club.”

Moses joined Chelsea in August 2012, for £9m from Wigan, and under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez actually played 43 matches that season, including more than 25 starts. This was despite disappearing mid-season to win the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria.

Then Jose Mourinho returned and, as is his wont, quickly decided Moses was not his kind of player. The winger was swiftly banished on loan, to Liverpool, then Stoke, then West Ham. He had a season at each, but never seemed to settle. This pre-season, however, new manager Antonio Conte saw enough to retain Moses at Stamford Bridge. He gave him a series of substitute outings in the league, and starts in the EFL Cup. Then came Conte’s reshaping of Chelsea to 3-4-3 and Moses’ unexpected deployment at right wing-back. As an attacking counterpoint to the more defensively-minded Marcos Alonso on the other flank, Moses has been reborn.

Conte must have rare perception, for few other managers would have trusted Moses in a position with such defensive responsibilities. Seven years ago I was privileged to spend an evening on the Crystal Palace bench during a Football League Cup tie against Manchester City. Victor Moses was then a young player of potential, a few months shy of his 19th birthday. He had tricks, he had pace, he had desire; but time and again, as he either lost possession or was out of position, the old lags on the subs’ bench beside me would shake their heads.

Moses, however, is a determined man who has forged a career at the highest level despite a traumatising childhood in which both parents were murdered in a religious riot in Nigeria. Smuggled to England as an 11-year-old asylum seeker his football ability was the making of him, earning him a scholarship to a prestigious public school and a contract with Palace. He has been prepared to learn, graft, and wait his chance

Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on January 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Marc Atkins Getty Images Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta - 7 epa07316725 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta (2nd L) reacts after teammate N'Golo Kante scored the 1-0 goal during the Carabao League Cup semi final second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Britain, 24 January 2019. EPA/NEIL HALL EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. 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(AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings Emerson - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Emerson of Chelsea prepares to take a throw in during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) Getty Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings N'golo Kante - 8 Chelsea's Ngolo Kante scores his side's first goal of the game during the Carabao Cup Semi Final, second leg match at Stamford Bridge, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday January 24, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. 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Now it has come. There have been some unexpected diversions on the journey, but Moses at last has the opportunity to show his talent. “I'm pleased the manager has given me a chance to express myself,” he said.

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