Hiddink says he expects Pato to stay

Guus Hiddink says he currently expects Alexandre Pato to stay at Chelsea for the remainder of the season.

The former AC Milan striker, 26, has not featured for the Blues since being signed on loan for the rest of the campaign from Corinthians in January.

There has been speculation this week that the loan deal could be brought to a premature end.

But interim boss Hiddink said: “At this moment he will stay until the end of the season.”

Eyebrows were raised when Pato secured a move to Chelsea after pursuing a transfer to England for some time.

He was offered to several clubs, including QPR, last year but none were interested in signing him.

His first-team chances at Chelsea have been affected by the emergence of Bertrand Traore and return to fitness of Loic Remy.

“You have to see that when he came here we had a very difficult situation, with only one striker (Diego Costa),” Hiddink added.

“At that time Bertrand Traore was a very young kid and in a very short time he has come in, done well and scored some goals.

“We also had Remy in very troubled waters and Falcao also. That was a reason to get Pato on loan.

“Everyone has (since) become fitter and fitter and he has to compete. We will see what we will do after the international break. We will maybe do some changes.

“But the players have to compete among themselves, in a healthy way, and I have to make a judgement on whether to give them a spot.”