It seemed unlikely Malang Sarr would start four consecutive games for Chelsea this season.
For many it would have been less surprising for the Frenchman to have spent his season away from Stamford Bridge completely.
When Sarr's loan move to Bundesliga side Greuther Furth collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window it was difficult to see what impact the 22-year-old might have.
His role still remained valuable as he provided the only rotation for Antonio Rudiger in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup campaign. That has now changed.
Thomas Tuchel said: "He can play a full-back in the position like today. He can play centre-back and in the left position of a back three. That’s where he is at the moment, he deserves to play.
"He has played well when he was needed. I think he is very aware of his role, this is where he started and from there he takes what he can get. He needs to work hard, stay humble.
"Nothing more. There is no need for further promotion, he is doing good, he is solid and he is consistent and that is what we need."
Sarr has completed 90 minutes four times in a row, featuring in both roles against the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City at the start of 2022. Early in the season, his appearances had been steady but not wholly convincing. Now, he's starting to look the part, and has the attitude to match his words.
Sarr told the official Chelsea TV: "I try to be the best I can to help the squad and feel comfortable. If I need to play on the side, I will, if I need to play in a three in the back, I play. No matter what I'm just ready and hopefully I will help the team to achieve our goals and to be good on the pitch."
The former Nice youngster joined the Blues on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 before heading on loan to Porto. Sarr made 27 appearances for the Portuguese side, including six in the Champions League, but by the end of the season invariably ended up in the club's B-team ranks.
Nevertheless, at Stamford Bridge and Cobham, Sarr appears to have found an environment to thrive in, even when lacking minutes.
He said: "It's amazing. It's a great team and I'm happy to be here and I feel I am lucky to be here. I am grateful and happy to work every day with the guys because there are a lot of good guys in this team.
"Everyone is kind and everyone works hard and it helps me to set my goals and work hard as well. I am really happy to be able to play my first games for the club and I'm trying to do as well as I can when I play, to try to perform and just give back the confidence from the coach."
For a long time, it was expected that the Blues would look to find a temporary move for Sarr once again. January's path now seems to suggest that would be unthinkable for the time being, with the absences of Trevoh Chalobah, Andreas Christensen, Reece James and Ben Chilwell.
Sarr is clearly a character that fits in Tuchel's mind, and is benefiting from other personalities around the club. From the way he has grown into a role this season, it is clear why Tuchel is always wary in discussions surrounding the transfer market.
Earlier in the month the German coach said: "We are discussing and we are in talks, of course, with the staff and the board and the scouting, of course, checking the possibilities as we would always do.
"But given the fact that we have some long-term injuries we're looking into the market, we're looking into some possibilities, not in the very highest pressure. And things have to make sense for us personality-wise, position-wise, and also in quality. So we have all options and we'll check them out."
Whenever the 48-year-old is questioned on January plans, personality is referenced in way where it's importance cannot be understated. Perhaps it is how Tuchel was able to galvanise such a response against Liverpool in the wake of Romelu Lukaku's interview.
Sarr might not fit into the mould of the usual Chelsea standard just yet. But he knows his place in the defensive hierarchy, and is therefore unlikely to cause any issues while being able to step into the team. That has proved invaluable this month.
The defender has ambition and self-awareness, as his move from Nice first showed.
"It was a big, big decision but I felt that I needed something different, to see myself in a different situation because I was in a comfort zone," explained Sarr.
"I knew everything in the city and the club and I needed something different to see how I would react. I wanted to have a club in between Nice and Chelsea to have some minutes because with the lockdown they cancelled the championship.
"I'd been out for maybe nine months without playing an official game. I needed that to play and get the rhythm back."
The emerging star is firmly focused on trophies now, however.
He added: "If you win each and every game, you're definitely going to get some trophies and some titles. Trophies, that's the thing that stays for life.
"You can do everything you want, you keep it. If you win the Premier League or Champions League that's something you will have all of your life. Trophies is the main thing."
While it may slow the transfer process down, focusing on character has been crucial in players like Sarr and Chalobah emerging into first team roles this season.
Replacing Chilwell or James for a short time, with the required quality is difficult, when you do not want to rock the boat when everyone is fit at the start of next season.
It also proves why Chelsea are correct not to end negotiations with Christensena and Rudiger as their influence goes beyond their quality on the pitch.
