The Blues travel north to take on Hull City in the fourth round of this season’s FA Cup, in a 7.45pm kick-off at the MKM Stadium. It will be familiar surroundings for Rosenior, who spent five year with the Tigers as a player, before returning as their head coach in 2022.

There will be no split loyalties for the new Chelsea head coach, though. He is expecting a tough match in Hull and won’t be treating this game any differently due to the competition, Championship opposition or his own personal links.

‘This is going to be a difficult game and I want to do well in this competition,’ he said. ‘I don't see it any differently than a Premier League game or a Champions League game.

‘We will go there with a team I think will be good enough to win the game. I will want to take this game really seriously. We're going to have to because they're in good form and used to winning games at the moment.’

That doesn’t mean it won’t be a poignant occasion for our head coach as he returns to Hull. It is a club which has played a massive role in his life, both personally and professionally.

When he takes his seat in the away dugout at the MKM Stadium it is sure to be an emotional moment, for him and the rest of the Rosenior family, who he confirmed will be in attendance.

‘Hull City is very special for me. My grandma was a season ticket holder. I’ve got my family going up as the club means a lot to me for many reasons. Hopefully we can put on a really good show, it will be amazing to go back.

‘Without Hull, without the experience of being there as a player and as a manager, I would not be sitting here. I've got a lot to thank the club for and I had some amazing times there, both as a player and as a coach.

‘It's really good to see them doing so well in the league. It's a great club, great people, great fans, a great city. It’s going to be an emotional one for me to go back.’

Hopefully come the final whistle, Rosenior’s main emotion will be one of joy, following an FA Cup victory for Chelsea.