Cesc Fabregas is set to have a more prominent role in the Chelsea team this season and could feature in the No. 10 position, according to boss Antonio Conte.
The Spain international played 29 times last season as the Blues regained the Premier League title, but only started on 13 occasions in the league and played the full 90 minutes just eight times.
The 30-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona man is set to begin his fourth season at Stamford Bridge and Conte revealed he may feature higher up the pitch in 2017-18 where his creativity could flourish.
"He is a really good player who can play in this position in midfield but also he could play No.10," Conte told the Daily Mirror. "He is a great example to other players with his commitment and his behaviour every day during training sessions. He must continue this way because he is working well for us.
"In the second part of last season, Cesc played a lot of games and he was an important player for us to reach our target of winning the league and also to reach the final of the FA Cup.
"He is a really good player and has worked really hard. I think Cesc has improved a lot from when I arrived at Chelsea, from his start and up to now, he has improved a lot."