Two forgotten Chelsea stars provide much-needed boost for Thomas Tuchel

On the weekend Thomas Tuchel took Chelsea fans back in time.

It was not quite the return of the good old days where John Terry, Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba, and former boss Frank Lampard glided around Stamford Bridge while mopping up trophies.

However, it was perhaps the next best thing as some familiar faces were interestingly handed starting XI spots in Chelsea's 3-1 victory at home to Southampton.

After a relatively impressive start to the season, there was a feeling Tuchel's side had suddenly stagnated.

Out of context, consecutive 1-0 defeats to Manchester City at home in the Premier League and away to Juventus in the Champions League carries no shame.

Thomas Tuchel has turned to some forgotten faces to boost Chelsea's recent fortunes

Yet Tuchel began to turn the tide in Turin when he brought Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Ross Barkley, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek - not quite out from the cold as it was chilly in Italy - on to try and shift the momentum against Massimiliano Allegri's side.

The footballing world was shocked, some even amused due to the fact the European champions had looked to Barkley and Loftus-Cheek, players who could not even command a starting spot for Villa and Fulham respectively, to turn around a vital Champions League match.

And the rewards were more than reaped, as Chelsea were smoother, more in-sync, and a lot more threatening in attack.

This move was interpreted as being a message to the Chelsea stars on the pitch, but Tuchel awarded all of the substitutions aside from Ross Barkley, with a start against Southampton.

Barkley even contributed an outstanding pre-assist with a laser beam like pass for Cesar Azpilicueta to prod back into the box for Timo Werner to score.

Remember in the recent transfer window when Chelsea were so supposedly short in midfield options after sending Billy Gilmour on loan to Norwich City, they loaned Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez to fill the void left by the talented Scotsman?

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek enjoyed a fine display for Chelsea against Southampton

Well, Tuchel has almost pulled Barkley and Loftus-Cheek out of thin-air and they both looked more than capable of being the heart which beats Chelsea's title challenge.

Loftus-Cheek may not have had a place within Chelsea's starting eleven, but he has always had a place in the hearts of Chelsea fans.

He looked like a man reborn at Stamford Bridge as he drove past Southampton midfielders like they were training ground free-kick men.

Tuchel compared Loftus-Cheek to Michael Ballack when he was first pressed upon the chances of the 25-year-old, and the German boss proved his admiration for the former Crystal Palace loanee was genuine.

Chelsea's already deep squad suddenly looks even more vast, and any concerns from the summer about their midfield options have surely been put to bed.

Chalobah has also emerged as another strong central midfield option for the Blues.

He began the Premier League season on the right-hand side of the back three and he even found the net with a stunning, swerving finish in the 3-0 victory at Blues.

Singing in the rain - Ross Barkley put in another strong display from the bench for Chelsea

Against Ralph Hasenhuttl's side, he was deployed as the main protector and destroyer in front of Chelsea's defence and he did not put a foot wrong all game.

Having lots of names to choose from does not always constitute variety, but Tuchel now has even more names and even more variety.

Now Tuchel knows he can reliably choose the graceful, quick thinking pace-setter of Jorginho, or he fall upon the defensive nous and instincts of Chalobah to protect the Chelsea defence.

Remnants and similarities of the leggy displays of last December which culminated in Lampard's ruthless sacking last January, were present in Chelsea's defeat to City and Juventus.

However, the way in which Tuchel empowered the likes of Barkley and Loftus-Cheek as well as diversifying Chalobah's game has nipped all those fears in the bud, and essentially doubled Chelsea's midfield options.

Sometimes there are instances where the solution to a team's problems is right under the noses of the manager, but only the bold and daring are able to sniff it out.