Every striker leans on a sense of timing and Marc Guiu’s is pretty good right now.

The first sign of that came off the pitch a few weeks ago. On the eve of the Liverpool fixture, the 19-year-old approached Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca after training to speak about his lack of games this season and find out if there were things he needed to do better to secure more involvement.

Sources familiar with the situation, speaking anonymously to The Athletic to protect relationships, insist this was not an angry exchange or a sign of someone with an attitude problem after being left out. Rather, the chat was respectful and polite.

Maresca did not take exception to Guiu raising the subject with him, either. As a former player, the Italian understood Guiu’s desperation to feature and eagerness for answers. So the head coach reassured the teenager that, if he kept working hard in training, his opportunity would come. This was consistent with the message Maresca had delivered on the topic when asked to comment publicly in press conferences.

Guiu did not have long to wait for the opportunity he craved.

The following day he was brought on with 16 minutes to go against Arne Slot’s side and he enjoyed an even longer run-out — the entirety of the second half — in Chelsea’s very next match after the international break, against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Crucially on both occasions, Guiu helped Chelsea turn potential dropped points into a much-needed victory.

Marc Guiu runs at Nikola Milenkovic and Morato (Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

There are no goals or assists to his name to show for his efforts. And this is not to say he has looked like a reincarnate of great Chelsea strikers of yesteryear like Didier Drogba or Diego Costa, either. But Guiu is making a more positive impression on Maresca.

Chelsea’s manager said as much shortly after Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Guiu was one of three changes the Italian made at half-time when the score was still goalless and the visitors had been second rate. Within seven minutes of his arrival alongside Moises Caicedo and Jamie Gittens, Chelsea had taken control and led 2-0.

Guiu played a part in each goal. For the first, it was his run to the near post which caused such concern with Murillo and Ibrahim Sangare tracking him. That left Josh Acheampong all alone to head in Pedro Neto’s cross. Soon afterwards, his sharp jink inside Morata earned the free kick outside the area from which Neto doubled the lead.

Significantly, Guiu’s introduction also improved the balance of the team.

Joao Pedro, who led the line for Chelsea in the first half, was able to dictate play from the No 10 role. He had attempted to do that in the first half, too, when he was supposed to be providing a threat in behind. As he dropped deeper, Nottingham Forest could squeeze Chelsea higher up the pitch.

But in the second half, the visitors had a natural frontman in Guiu ahead of Joao Pedro to worry the home side’s back line as well. Guiu ended up having three efforts on goal. He did not give the hosts a moment’s peace.

The Liverpool cameo a fortnight earlier was shorter but there were similarities to his impact at the City Ground. Guiu came on when the score was still 1-1 that night but quickly made himself a complete nuisance. It was his movement which dragged Virgil van Dijk out of position deep in injury time, leaving a huge space for Marc Cucurella’s cross to find Estevao Willian for the winner at the back post.

Guiu made a positive impression against Liverpool (Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Maresca clearly liked what he saw.

When asked by The Athletic if the impact Guiu made in both games was what he wanted to see if the teenager was to earn more minutes, Maresca replied: “Guiu was good (versus Nottingham Forest). I think he was on for 15 minutes against Liverpool, fighting with Van Dijk, (Ibrahima) Konate, (Ryan) Gravenberch, and he was very good.

“Today, after one minute of the second half, he won a corner against Morato. So we need that from Marc.”

Normally it would not be worth becoming too enthusiastic about two appearances lasting a combined 61 minutes (not including added time). But these are Guiu’s first games since being recalled from what was supposed to be a season-long loan at Sunderland on August 31.

Chelsea asked to cancel the agreement after Liam Delap sustained a hamstring injury against Fulham that would keep the England Under-21 international out until November. Guiu’s return also allowed them to trigger Nicolas Jackson’s own season-long loan departure to Bayern Munich before the transfer deadline.

Guiu did not play in the first six games after returning to Stamford Bridge and was naturally worried. He has been told he will be under consideration for Spain’s World Cup squad next summer if he plays enough, so he needed the game-time to earn his place. Maresca was not the only one to reassure him. Other sources familiar with the situation say similar messages were being conveyed by other staff members.

The good news for Guiu is that he has a strong chance of starting against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday. Joao Pedro is suspended leaving Tyrique George, and to a lesser degree Neto, as his only rivals for the berth. Three days later Sunderland, the team for whom he expected to play through 2025-26, come to Stamford Bridge.

Yes, he is eligible to play against them.

Marc Guiu competes with Huddersfield’s Murray Wallace for an aerial ball while at Sunderland (George Wood/Getty Images)

With the timing of Delap’s return in November uncertain, Guiu could now enjoy the run of games he was hoping for, even if a good proportion of them are off the bench.

Of course when Delap is match fit, Guiu may find himself back at square one in terms of how much he is is used. Having played three times for Sunderland on loan, the only loan Guiu can secure in January is back to the Wearside club because you cannot play for more than two sides in one season. However, encouragingly for Guiu, sources speaking anonymously to The Athletic suggest the possibility has not even been discussed yet.

Guiu will be fully aware he is not the finished article and still has a major challenge ahead to become a regular member of the senior side. But at least things are beginning to head in a more positive direction for him at the club.

He had to make an impression when offered the chance. He has done just that.