Three games, three wins, 10 goals for, one against. Finally, six weeks in, Chelsea’s season starts.

Yes, the Blues have given their rivals a head start, but the encouraging thing is that they are looking sharper and more determined with every passing minute.

The lethargy and stodginess which afflicted them against Swansea, City, Palace and Everton has been replaced by a thirst for glory and goals.

The Blues’ once-impregnable defence was opened up briefly at Walsall on Wednesday night in the League Cup, but a comfortable 4-1 victory earned Chelsea an away tie in the fourth round at Stoke.

A 2-0 win over Arsenal last weekend helped steady the ship, and although there wasn’t a third clean sheet against the Saddlers, defenders are moving like a well-oiled machine again, rather than a stuttering Volkswagen diesel.

Intriguingly that’s been achieved despite several shuffles of the pack, suggesting an overall improvement throughout the squad in attitude, commitment and togetherness.

John Terry’s role is in the spotlight, with the club captain dropped in games when a higher line could expose his pace in tracking back. But Jose Mourinho genuinely relies on JT for essential dressing room back-up.

Some wonder why a player who was on the pitch for every second of last season’s league success should, 10 weeks later, be left on the bench.

The answer is Mourinho’s tweaked tactics, pushing newcomers like Baba forward more than left-back Cesar Azpilicueta was advanced in the last campaign.

Jose knows he has to mix things up a bit, to make the Blues less predictable and more threatening.

With Diego Costa retrospectively banned for violent conduct against the Gunners, there are golden opportunities for Falcao and Loic Remy to shine. Remy faces the Newcastle side he once played in at the weekend, buoyed by his goal against Walsall.

Who knows? The Blues could soon soar into the top half of the table again.