Danny Drinkwater is growing increasingly frustrated at being left on the Chelsea bench and could consider his future after just one season at the club.

Having signed for £35million from Leicester City at the end of the summer transfer window, Drinkwater has started just five Premier League games for the Blues.

The 28-year-old has seen his hopes of making Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad go up in smoke and was even accused of not wanting to play for England after turning down a call-up because of injury in November.

Drinkwater pushed hard for his big move to Stamford Bridge and handed in a transfer request to force Leicester to sell him, but the move to Chelsea has turned sour.

He hoped to renew the midfielder partnership with N’Golo Kante that pushed Leicester to the Premier League title, but the pair have only started six times together in all competitions.

Even when Tiemoue Bakayoko was out with injury, following his red card at Watford, Drinkwater only started two Premier League games – the defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City – and has not played since in over a month.

Bakayoko came back into the side for the victories over Crystal Palace and Leicester, but head coach Antonio Conte has preferred Kante and Cesc Fabregas for the last couple of games.