Tiemoue Bakayoko has come under a lot of negative scrutiny since joining Chelsea last summer, but Thibaut Courtois believes he will help the club be a major force again next term.

Bakayoko was signed from Monaco for £40m to replace Nemanja Matic, who joined Manchester United for the same sum, in the first XI.

But the France international has rarely shown the form that played a part in Monaco beating Paris Saint Germain to the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League semi-final in 2017.

His performances deteriorated so badly, Chelsea fans jeered him after the midfielder was sent off during the 4-1 defeat at Watford in February. Coach Antonio Conte didn't start the 23-year-old in a League game again for another two months after that.

But now he has featured in the line-up for three top flight times in a row, including arguably his best display so far in the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday - a victory that has kept Chelsea's hopes of finishing in the top four alive.

Courtois told Standard Sport: "It is not easy to settle into a new club, especially one like Chelsea. If results go your way it's fantastic, everybody will say it's a great signing. Yet when things go wrong and you're a big signing, you will get criticism.

"People forget that he is still a young guy. Maybe his form dropped a bit, but you can see in the last few games he's been very good again.

"He was very strong against Liverpool in midfield and we can be happy about that. His partnership with N'Golo Kante can be a formidable one in midfield next season.

"Physically they are very strong. It will be really hard for teams to win that midfield battle against us.

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"N'Golo just runs and runs and runs. He must be carrying a really big motor inside himself to keep on doing that week after week. He never gets rest and is the guy that gives us balance in this team."

Bakayoko arrived in west London still recovering from the knee injury which required surgery 12 months ago.

Such was the nature of the problem, it was one of the reasons why the transfer took a lot longer to complete than expected.

It also meant he missed all of Chelsea's pre-season under Conte and started training with the squad after the campaign had begun.

Courtois added: "That's very significant, especially as the manager needed him straight away.

"He didn't have that physical preparation or take part in the tactical training sessions that Antonio likes. I think that's why it has not been easy for him.

"When a new signing arrives into the team we always try to help them settle in as quickly as possible. But it's also about understanding the system the manager wants to play.

"A midfielder has to do specific things that Antonio wants, things that he's maybe not used to. But if you understand that all this is the case and see what Tiemoue has done, you can see he is a very good player."

Along with the triumph over Liverpool, It is worth pointing out that Bakayoko was also in the first XI for Chelsea's other wins against 'major' opponents this term in Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.

It is a nature of the sport that some foreign players settle quicker into the English game than others.

Courtois made an instant impact at Stamford Bridge following a three-year loan at Atletico Madrid, however the Belgium international explained: "I was in Spain for three years before coming to Chelsea so was used to having to make the transformation from my own country.

"When you move from one country to another for the first time as he did from France, it can be difficult. Does he understand that you need the mental strength to adapt? I think so yes. Everyone has respect for him. He works hard in training every day and is ready when called upon."