Cesc Fabregas has been compared to none other than Santa Claus, with Michy Batshuayi calling the Chelsea midfielder's assists as Christmas gifts for his team-mates.
With N'Golo Kante injured, Fabregas started Monday night's Stamford Bridge clash against Middlesbrough and assisted Diego Costa's opening goal against Middlesbrough in typical fashion.
Fabregas also set a personal record with his lofted assist for Costa, as the former Arsenal star became the first player to have assisted 10 goals in six different Premier League seasons.
The Spaniard's Chelsea team-mate Batshauyi - out of the matchday squad after a tough first year in England - tweeted: "Bro Cesc is like Santa on a pitch", followed by a string of gift emojis.
The milestone is all the more remarkable given that Fabregas has been a back-up midfielder for long stretches of the 2016/17 campaign, playing second fiddle to N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic following Antonio Conte's inspired switch to a 3-4-3 formation.
Despite his lack of playing time earlier this term, Fabregas buckled down and impressed Conte sufficiently to press for more starts - and the Spaniard has not let his coach down.
Standard Sport understands that Fabregas will reject a transfer to AC Milan this summer because he has little interest in moving to Serie A.
Despite another good season for assists, the 30-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge is still uncertain as he is likely to drop further down the pecking order with Chelsea closing in on a £40m deal for Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko.
