Chelsea star set to return after lengthy injury in huge boost for Liam Rosenior's side

Lewis Henderson
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:53:43 +0000

Chelsea star Levi Colwill is set to return for the Blues after a lengthy injury break, in a huge boost for Liam Rosenior's side.

The 23-year-old Englishman suffered an ACL injury on his first day back in pre-season training in August and had to undergo surgery.

He is set to feature for Chelsea's under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly tomorrow, having returned to first-team training last month.

In what will be the defender's irst appearance of the season, Rosenior will be hoping the centre back can get some minutes under his belt to incorporate him for the conclusion of the campaign.

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Chelsea are still in the hunt for Champions League football, currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, four points off Liverpool in fifth.

The Blues have endured a torrid run of form in the league as of late, losing their last three to Newcastle, Everton and Manchester City.

Rosenior's side crashed out in the Champions League during the spell of games, conceding eight goals in the process to a rampant PSG.

Chelsea only won once in their past six, beating second-bottom of League One Port Vale 7-0 in the FA Cup.

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The Blues boss will be hoping the addition of Colwill will bolster his side's chances of creeping into the Champions League places, with Manchester United upcoming at home in their next fixture.

Rosenior said: "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."

He continued: "It (the friendly) has not been set up especially for him, but it's something that we think is right for him in this moment, that's come about in this moment for him."

Chelsea have struggled at times defensively, conceding 41 goals so far in the league this season, having let in 43 throughout the whole of their last campaign.

Six goals have come from errors leading to a goal for the Blues this season, with criticism being laid on centre-halves Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana throughout periods of this year.

Chelsea ranks third in the league this season for most centre-back partnerships, amid a clear lack of steadiness in the back line.

Only Trevoh Chalobah has emerged as a consistent name in the Conference League holder's defence, starting 29 games.

Chalobah is close to a return following a recent setback with injury, while club captain Reece James is not ready yet.

Rosenior noted that his side are "running out of time" to get the points needed to qualify for the Champions League.

He said: "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.

"We're running out of time. We need to show that initiative on Saturday evening, and we need to play on the front foot, and we need to make up those points, which is still definitely possible."