Photo: Alexandre Pato naps with Panda ahead of Swansea v Chelsea"

Alexandre Pato showed his softer side on Thursday evening after the Chelsea striker posted a photo with his canine friend.

The Brazil international has enjoyed a good week after the 26-year-old made his first Chelsea appearance in the Premier League at Villa Park last weekend.

Pato scored inside 25 minutes of his introduction from the bench after he won and converted a first-half penalty in Chelsea’s 4-0 victory over Villa.

The former AC Milan striker will be hoping to start his first Premier League game this weekend when Guus Hiddink’s side make the trip to Welsh side Swansea City.

And Pato posted an adorable photo of his dog, Panda, on his Instagram page as part of the social media app’s Throwback Thursday feature.

Pato wrote: “#tbt #Panda”

Chelsea appointed Italy head coach Antonio Conte as their new permanent manager on Monday afternoon.

The Blues are in tenth place and 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.