Portugal manager praises Chelsea star after fine debut

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has heaped praise on Chelsea defender Renato Veiga following a fine international debut against Poland on Saturday night.

Veiga was a surprise signing for the Blues from Basel last summer. He has predominantly played as a left-back and a defensive midfielder during his first few months.

However, he is also comfortable from the central defensive position. The 21-year-old made his debut from the role for Portugal last night, partnering Ruben Dias.

Veiga was good with a passing accuracy of more than 89 percent. He made seven clearances in the game and was also good in contesting aerial challenges.

Speaking after the 3-1 win on the road in the Nations League, Martinez praised Veiga saying: "I'm very pleased because he didn't play like a young player, he showed incredible maturity.

"He was a focused and aggressive centre-back, he won every duel, he's very strong in the air. His debut level shows the potential."

Veiga was unheard of before his move to Chelsea, but he has made a huge impact within a short space of time. He could prove a fantastic player in the long run.