Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hailed England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips after yesterday's victory over Birmingham City.
Mourinho admitted he has been stunned by Wright-Phillips' resilience since signing from Manchester City in July 2005 to establish himself as a first-team regular at the Bridge.
The Portuguese gaffer added: "I think the first season was not easy for Shaun. In the second he had a big improvement, his choices and the way he thinks about the game are much better.
"He's a team player and I think he deserves good things and I'm very pleased he had an impressive performance.
"Shaun is the kind of boy that deserves it. Some players, after one bad season, want to leave.
"But the boy always believed in himself. The dressing room loves him too because he was always a team player and whether playing from the start or in the last few minutes - or in the stand - he was always the same person.
"I'm very, very happy he had this very good performance. This pre-season he's started very, very well and the players know I'm honest and choose the players that deserve more. And today he played a very, very good game."
Wright-Phillips said: "The gaffer has given me a chance so now I just want to settle down and try to keep my place in the side."
