Andre Schurrle's Germany Hat-Trick Underlines Claim to Regular Chelsea Start

The past fortnight or so of international football has helped to restore the faith of English fans in their national team with two comfortable victories that saw the Three Lions seal qualification for Brazil 2014.

It's restored Andre Schurrle's reputation, also.

The young German arrived at Chelsea this summer with a considerable stature on the back of his success in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Last season alone Schurrle scored 14 goals in all competitions—a tally that included 11 in the league.

For a player of his tender years and one not featuring for the dominant Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, it was impressive form—form that convinced Chelsea into splashing out £20 million for his signature.

Settling in at Stamford Bridge has been an altogether different experience for Schurrle, however. With so much talent around him competing for a starting place, the opening weeks have left some sections of the Blues' support wondering what all the fuss was about with regard to the German.

Things changed rapidly in Chelsea's victory over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League this month, though, and his four goals in Germany's recent World Cup qualifiers—a strike against Ireland at the weekend, followed up with his hat-trick against Sweden on Tuesday evening—suggest he is back to his level from last term.

Against Steaua, Schurrle was excellent. A constant threat on the left wing, he gave Chelsea some much-needed width and was also influential in many of their attacks, playing a key role in at least two goals.

Indeed, such was his performance in Romania, when Ramires fired home his second of the evening to make it 3-0, Jose Mourinho was more concerned with congratulating Schurrle on the touchline than he was the goalscorer, embracing the German on account of his work rate and determination.

His performance was equally encouraging in the 3-1 win against Norwich City a few days later, but it's what he has done away from Stamford Bridge this past fortnight that must surely mean he's challenging Eden Hazard for a regular place on the left of Chelsea's attacking three.

After his debut season in England last year, it would be difficult to imagine Mourinho overlooking Hazard. Yet the Belgian's Achilles injury has hampered him at times in 2013-14 and he hasn't maintained the high standards he so often sets.

Schurrle's recent form raises questions elsewhere in this Chelsea team, also.

The Blues' strikers are yet to find a Premier League goal between them, so Schurrle's prolific spell on international duty should have Mourinho considering whether or not to return to the experiment he tried at Old Trafford in August when Schurrle started as the lone front man.

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Manchester United on that occasion after a toothless performance in attack. Schurrle wasn't to blame—it was more Mourinho's tactics and the relatively short time the team had spent together that hampered the Blues that evening.

Yet, the best part of two months on, it has to be said Chelsea are looking sharper, with key players forming an understanding. We've seen Schurrle lead the line with Leverkusen in the past and after four goals in two matches, it raises the question of whether he's ready to do it for Chelsea.

Fernando Torres may have served his suspension for the red card he received at Tottenham Hotspur, but he remains on the sidelines with a knee injury. Demba Ba looked sharp against Norwich, although he has been poor this year, while the same can also be said for Samuel Eto'o.

In contrast, Schurrle is among the goals and his confidence is back. That makes him a preferable alternative to his teammates right now.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @garryhayes