Chelsea fans have been waiting patiently for Estevao to receive more opportunities under Xabi Alonso, and his performance against Manchester United may have finally given the manager a compelling reason to reconsider his selection decisions.

The Brazilian winger was handed his first Premier League start of the season at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and he responded with an energetic display that helped Chelsea secure a crucial 2-0 victory over Michael Carrick's struggling side.

Although Estevao had two goals ruled out for offside, his performance demonstrated that his influence cannot be measured by goals alone.

The 19-year-old was a constant threat on the right flank, using his pace, dribbling ability and willingness to take on defenders to create problems for United's backline.

His first disallowed goal came after he followed up a rebound from Pedro Neto, while his second was ruled out following a marginal offside decision after Cole Palmer played him through on goal.

For a player who has struggled to secure regular playing time, coming so close to scoring twice against one of England's biggest clubs was an impressive statement.

Estevao recorded six shots, created three chances and completed five dribbles, underlining just how influential he was during his time on the pitch.

His performance also arrived at an important moment for Alonso, who had faced questions about the youngster's limited involvement following Chelsea's disappointing defeat to Tottenham and their midweek penalty-shootout elimination against Liverpool.

Supporters have been eager to see more of the Brazilian, particularly because his creativity and unpredictability offer something different from Chelsea's other attacking options.

Against United, he looked determined to justify that confidence, repeatedly driving at defenders and looking for opportunities to make things happen.

Alonso will undoubtedly appreciate that determination, especially as Chelsea continue searching for the right attacking combinations following Joao Pedro's injury.

The manager has experimented with different players in central attacking positions, but Estevao's performance could encourage him to reconsider how best to accommodate the youngster alongside Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Pedro Neto.

However, the challenge for Estevao will be maintaining this level of performance when opportunities become more frequent.

One impressive display does not automatically guarantee a regular starting position, particularly at a club where competition for attacking places remains fierce.

Nevertheless, keeping a player of his ability on the bench becomes increasingly difficult to justify when he demonstrates that he can influence matches at the highest level.

Alonso was pleased with the youngster's response, explaining after the match that Estevao had shown he deserved more opportunities and had been prepared to take his chance.

That acknowledgement should encourage the Brazilian, but Chelsea supporters will now want to see whether the manager follows those words with more consistent minutes.

Ultimately, Estevao may not have found the net against Manchester United, but his performance delivered a message that Alonso cannot afford to ignore.

The question now is whether this was the beginning of a more prominent role for the Brazilian or simply an encouraging performance before the competition for places intensifies again.

Source: Chelsea's official match report against Manchester United