Christian Pulisic backs Timo Werner to be an 'exciting' addition at Chelsea

American winger made an instant impact in his first match since January after scoring the equaliser against Aston Villa

Chelsea attacker Olivier Giroud scores his team's winner at Villa Park on Sunday, June 21. Chelsea won the match 2-1. Reuters

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring their first goal against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday. Reuters

Aston Villa's Kortney Hause, left, scores his side's opening goal during the match against Aston Villa at the Villa Park on Sunday. AP

Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the match against Aston Villa on Sunday. Getty

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause with messages in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign. Reuters

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, left, and Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic at Villa Park. EPA

Aston Villa's Matt Targett vies for the ball with Chelsea's Mason Mount on Sunday. Reuters

Chelsea's Willian in action with Aston Villa's Matt Targett. Reuters

Aston Villa players celebrate after Kortney Hause scored his side's opening goal at Villa Park. AP

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, left, at Villa Park on Sunday. EPA

Willian of Chelsea with the the NHS logo on his shirt. Getty

A corner pole is disinfected at the Villa Park Stadium. AP

American winger Christian Pulisic believes Timo Werner will be an "exciting" addition to Chelsea's squad next season.

Werner, 24, last week sealed a €55 million (Dh226m) transfer to Chelsea and has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League club.

In swapping the Bundesliga for the Blues, the RB Leipzig striker will emulate Pulisic, who completed his move to Chelsea last summer from Borussia Dortmund having signed for the Stamford Bridge side in January 2019.

Chelsea on Sunday played their first match since the Premier League's three-month coronavirus lockdown, beating Aston Villa 2-1 with Pulisic scoring the equaliser. It was also the first game Frank Lampard's team had played after confirming the signing of Werner.

When asked after the match if Werner's arrival signalled an exciting future for Chelsea, Pulisic, 21, said: “Yes, I think so.

“We’re a very strong team with very strong players, to add him to that, it’s exciting for what’s to come.”

Pulisic, who had been sidelined with injury since January, made an instant impact from the bench, scoring on the hour mark five minutes after his introduction.

“I’ve been out for a while, it felt nice to be back out there,” the United States international said. “All of us have been off, now we have to get back to winning things.

“I’m really glad I could come on and help the team in any way I could. Just to go in and help us win he game. Use my talents to see what I could do.

“I don’t think I hit it perfectly, but I’m happy it went in.”

Pulisic's performance was singled out by Lampard, who said: "He will start games for us, of course, and I think he's going to be a big player for us, not just in this run-in but going forward.

"He was hungry. I know that and I felt for him, as I felt for the players with long-term injuries. The ability he's got to arrive in the box, it's a big thing, I've spoken about it with him all season."