Chelsea’s Levi Colwill set for return after injury layoff
Chelsea star Levi Colwill is poised to return for the Blues after a lengthy injury break, in a huge boost for Liam Rosenior’s side, reports BritPanorama.
The 23-year-old Englishman sustained an ACL injury on his first day back in pre-season training in August and subsequently underwent surgery. He is expected to feature for Chelsea’s under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly tomorrow, having returned to first-team training last month.
Rosenior will be keen for the centre-back to gain match fitness as this will mark his first appearance of the season. The manager hopes to integrate Colwill back into the squad for the final stages of the campaign, with critical matches ahead.
The Blues are currently chasing a spot in the Champions League, sitting sixth in the Premier League, just four points adrift of Liverpool in fifth. However, Chelsea has struggled with form recently, suffering three successive league defeats to Newcastle, Everton, and Manchester City. The team’s dip in performance was compounded by an early exit from the Champions League, during which they conceded eight goals to Paris Saint-Germain.
Rosenior has voiced his anticipation for Colwill’s return, stating, “Levi will play some minutes for the Under-21s tomorrow, which is fantastic for him. When you have a long-term injury, such as the extent of Levi’s injury, you need a long rehab period. I want to make sure that he’s 100 per cent right in terms of his match fitness before we consider him for selection for our first team.”
Chelsea’s defence has come under scrutiny this season, with the team conceding 41 goals, six of which stemmed from errors leading directly to goals. The centre-back partnerships have been inconsistent, contributing to a rocky performance record. Rosenior acknowledged the urgency of their situation, remarking, “As the season goes on, the less games you have left, the more important the games become. We have to take advantage of this moment.”
With Colwill set to return, Chelsea supporters will undoubtedly be hoping for a more solid defensive display as they vie for a spot among Europe’s elite next season.
