Having not featured in our opening fixture of the season away to Fulham on Monday night, the trio were named in the Chelsea starting XI by Alonso for our first outing of the campaign at Stamford Bridge. All made their mark on the contest.

Welbeck scored our opener against the Hatters with a well-taken header from a Malo Gusto cross. Barco was involved in our second goal of the night, winning the ball in midfield before finding Cole Palmer, who put Estevao Willian in a position to force an own goal from Hakeem Odoffin

At the opposite end, Penders wasn’t unduly tested by Luton but ended his Chelsea debut with a deserved clean sheet.

Alonso was pleased for each of the trio, as well as those who were making their full debuts or first competitive outings at Stamford Bridge.

He said: 'For them it's a special day that they will remember. Mike will be happy because for a goalkeeper, to make his debut and keep a clean sheet feels good. Valentin had an impressive performance: very dynamic, good with the ball, very aware of what was going on in the midfield.

‘Danny was the patient player. He was the one who had to be in the box waiting for one good cross to come. In the first half we were close but we couldn’t get it.

‘Then he scored the first goal, which was important. A great cross from Malo and he did what he does best: to be in the right place and score.’

Our debuting trio were part of a strong side named by Alonso. Among the starters was Cole Palmer, who completed 90 minutes and ended the game with the captain’s armband after Reece James was brought off in the second period.

Alonso was asked after the game why he felt Palmer was ready to start and finish the contest against the Hatters. He replied: 'Cole has had a great pre-season and is well prepared, so he’s one of the players who can take the 90 minutes.

'We had an idea, depending on the context of the game, but Cole has a very good fitness level in terms of his stamina and now he needs to recover well on Sunday.'