After several years of imbalance, John Obi Mikel appears to have found his level at Chelsea.

Several years ago, he was an influential member of the first XI. In the 2010-11 season he started 28 matches in the Premier League, featuring in 22 the year after.

In the triumphant 2011-12 Champions League campaign, he made nine appearances and played for every minute of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final as Benfica, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were ousted.

He demonstrated an aptitude for the big occasion and was outstanding, particularly against Barcelona when Chelsea defended with their backs to the wall and Mikel was charged with shackling Lionel Messi.

That Champions League triumph and the Cup of Nations victory that followed with Nigeria some six months later represent the apex of Mikel’s career to date. He was an indisputably influential figure in two title-winning sides.

Since then, however, his contribution has waned and his minutes have largely dried up.

He made only 11 starts last season under new boss Jose Mourinho but did make seven appearances in the Champions League.

At various times since Mourinho’s return to west London, it has appeared as though Mikel would be heading in the opposite direction.

In the summer of 2013, Mikel admitted he didn’t know whether he was part of the Portuguese manager’s plans and looked set for a switch to Turkey, with both Trabzonspor and Galatasaray interested in his services, via Jack Wilson of the Daily Star.

French moneybags AS Monaco also showed an interest, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, with the midfielder quoted as saying: “I have a four-year contract with Chelsea, but you know, in football you can never guess, one day you are here, the next day you might leave.”

More recently, he was linked with a move to Internazionale. Anthony Chapman of the Express acknowledged that the player’s agent, John Shittu, confirmed talks with the Italian giants: “Inter? ... I met with my client and the directors and they are interested in him.”

Nerazzurri boss Walter Mazzarri fueled speculation by admitting in a press conference that he was interested in the Nigeria international, via Sky Sports.

Through all the speculation and amid the many Stamford Bridge departures, the West African remained.

Heading into this new season, it was unclear what part Mikel would have to play in Chelsea’s campaign, while it was unsure whether he was genuinely part of Mourinho’s plans.

As the season has begun to unfold, we’ve started to get some answers.

In answer to the question featured in the article title, “What role can John Obi Mikel realistically play for Chelsea?”—I think we’re looking at it.

With Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas fit, the Nigerian midfielder cannot realistically hope to be a regular first-team starter. He lacks the mobility of the former; the Serbian is an upgrade on the West African in almost every department.

Similarly, he cannot influence a game offensively in the same way as Fabregas and, realistically, cannot hope to oust the World Cup winner from the starting XI.

That’s not to say Mikel is redundant.

He has featured for the Blues on nine occasions so far this year; he has started a combined three matches in the domestic cups, played 19 minutes in the Champions League and been introduced as a substitute six times in the Premier League.

Speaking to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, Mourinho has explained exactly what role he envisages for Mikel within the Chelsea side and how he views and values the midfielder’s contribution:

People on the bench are also coming on strong, the way they are playing, the way they react. Mikel comes on and gives stability to the team. I think we’re in a good moment.

When I play Mikel, I don’t need to say something to Nemanja Matic or Fabregas or to the team. They know what is going to happen, what the team are going to do, they know what Fabregas can give us when he then plays as a No. 10 rather than a No. 8. The team is very solid.

Mikel, who is now 27, brings the experience, the poise and the presence required by the Pensioners when they opt to negotiate the dying stages of fixtures.

It’s a valuable art.

Mikel may not be a particularly ferocious tackler; indeed, it’s never been one of his key strengths, and he’s averaged a lowly 0.3 tackles per match during his 108 minutes in the EPL to date this season, according to WhoScored.com.

However, few can dispute his impressive pass-success rate of 93.5 percent, again via WhoScored.

Putting this into context, only one player, Mikel Arteta, has achieved a better average pass-success ratio this term. It’s important to note that Mikel has played considerably less than the other players populating the top 100 successful EPL passers, but the stats do demonstrate his key contribution.

When Chelsea are looking to close out the game, they can bring on an experienced and competent water-carrier who will use the ball wisely and recycle possession well.

While Matic is prone to charging forward (often to great success), Mikel has excellent positional discipline and will remain steadfast in front of the back four.

Mikel runs down the clock and kills momentum, he relieves pressure and slows the tempo.

Mourinho probably loves him for it.