Why Andre Schurrle Is Under Most Pressure for Chelsea Following Newcastle Win

Andre Schurrle's in a routine at present, but it's the worst possible kind.

He's dropped, then put back on the bench, starts a game only to underperform, being hooked at half-time by Jose Mourinho, and then misses the next game.

It needs to stop. Quickly.

Against Newcastle United this weekend—a game Chelsea won 2-0—the sequence started again.

Schurrle was omitted from Chelsea's matchday squad after a dreadful performance against Watford in the FA Cup. He wasn't on the bench, and speaking to some fans at the final whistle, the belief was that he contributed more against Newcastle than he has since October.

Indeed, these are worrying times for the German.

They're frustrating too.

Those who saw Schurrle in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge know what he is capable of. We didn't need his World Cup cameos and form earlier this season to confirm it.

The German is an exceptional talent, but for whatever reason, he cannot buy a performance right now. His touch has gone, he's struggling against lower-league players and there isn't an end product.

Since suffering injury and picking up a virus in October while away on international duty, Schurrle hasn't been the same player.

When he's on the pitch, Chelsea are carrying him, and he makes little impact.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Against Watford he was subbed at the interval, and Willian came on to change the game, much in the same way Schurrle has done in the past for Chelsea.

Blues fans are worried, and the player must be also.

To make matters worse, Chelsea continue to win games without him.

What was interesting against Newcastle on Saturday was Mourinho's reluctance to make his famed early substitutions when things were going wrong.

And they were going drastically wrong.

Chelsea, at home and top of the table, hardly had a kick in the first half. The visitors dominated proceedings, even striking the woodwork after peppering Petr Cech's goal with some dangerous efforts.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

It was frustrating stuff for the home crowd and the manager, but rather than change things, Mourinho had enough faith in his players to turn things around.

After 43 minutes they did, with that man Willian again the influential figure.

It was his quick thinking from a corner that caught Newcastle napping, and after a disappointing first half, Chelsea went in at the break ahead.

They were fortunate in the extreme, an example of one team taking its chances and another lacking edge in front of goal—the fine margins that win matches.

The manager had confidence that the 11 players he picked would do enough to dig themselves out the hole they had created, which they did.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Come the second half, he kept the same team that had performed so badly. He was unhappy, sure, but worried? Not in the slightest.

When things go wrong for Schurrle, it's never the case. Mourinho acts too early at times.

From having confidence in the rest, it's clear Schurrle has fallen considerably in the manager's estimations.

Rumours of replacing him with Marco Reus refuse to go away, and to top it all off, he's struggling to get in the team.

Were he watching that Newcastle win, Schurrle must have been asking why certain players hadn't been substituted off.

They come with credit, though. Credit Schurrle doesn't have. They rarely let Mourinho down, and when they do, they can make amends.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Take Oscar, who was largely poor against Newcastle but scored and was also influential in Diego Costa's goal that sealed victory.

Outside of those two moments, he was ineffective. He will be forgiven, however, as he produced when it mattered. Oscar should be starting against Swansea City next week.

But what about Schurrle?

He's not producing anything right now, and by being dropped completely, his chances of turning the corner are zero. It's a vicious cycle he is caught up in.

How will it end? It's usually the exit door when things get this bad with Mourinho, which would be a crying shame, as Schurrle has plenty to offer this Chelsea side.

His fortunes need a drastic upturn before it's too late.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.