Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks has hailed the impact of David Luiz at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte was questioned for bringing the Samba star back to Stamford Bridge due to his history of defensive gaffes.

But the Blues have kept four clean sheets in a row since the Italian boss switched to a 3-4-3 formation.

Crooks said, "Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will get the headlines but their performance against a very good Southampton team doesn't tell the entire story of Chelsea's resurgence.

"The real deal is David Luiz at the centre of defence.

"I said after their clean sheet against Leicester City that here is a player who is taking defending his goal and goalkeeper very seriously.

"I've no doubt that the Italian 'catenaccio' (bolt the door) philosophy has been embedded into a transformed back five by Blues boss Antonio Conte, but Luiz stands defiant at the heart of that new regime."