Head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff have been overseeing a smaller group, although one supplemented with players from our Academy sides.

A handful of first-team stars remain, one of which is Raheem Sterling. The winger was in devastating form against Burnley on Saturday. He created our first goal, won the penalty for our second, scored our third, and played an excellent pass in the build-up to our fourth.

'When you win football matches, the mood is always different,' the 28-year-old explained after our victory at Turf Moor. 'That is always we've been asking for.

'We've had a few unlucky games that we should have come away with more from. But it's still early days and we're building. That's what is important.'

Also involved in first-team training has been Marc Cucurella, who has started the previous three matches at right-back in the absence of the suspended Malo Gusto and Reece James, who is still building up his fitness after a hamstring injury.

Cucurella admits his new role has been challenging, but it is one he has embraced to help the Blues secure three successive victories.

'It’s a little bit difficult,' the Spaniard said of his right-back role. 'Really it depends on the actions.

'The big demands are the same, it’s just I'm the opposite side. I try to do my best, help the team, and I think my teammates help me as well. So we need to continue in this way and win games.'

Three successive victories has – as alluded to by Sterling – lifted the mood around Chelsea. Performances have been strong for much of the campaign, but only now are they being rewarded with results and points.

'The team was good, the performance was fantastic,' Pochettino said on Saturday. 'I think they deserve the whole credit. We are so happy for them and go into the international break with a different feeling than the last break.

'We will spend it trying to improve players, and trying to recover players from injury. We have two weeks which we are going to spend working at the training ground.

'Of course it’s a different mood to the break last month because to go into it with a victory is much better. We will keep pushing and working hard to try to be better next month.'

What has gone somewhat under the radar thus far is Chelsea's defensive performances in the Premier League – only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals during the opening weeks of the campaign.

Thiago Silva, who has remained at Cobham, has been an ever-present in the top flight. As has Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill. And behind the backline has been summer signing Robert Sanchez

The Spaniard joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in early August and has kept four clean sheets in all competitions.

There have been eye-catching stops along the way, with his save to deny Aston Villa forward Nicolo Zaniolo nominated for September’s Premier League Save of the Month award.

The winner of the award will be revealed at 2pm on Friday 13 October.