Exclusive gives update on key Chelsea defender’s fitness with West Ham game on the horizon | OneFootball

Chelsea have had their first good piece of injury news today with an exclusive report from the Evening Standard that the Blues are expecting an absentee back in training this week.

Injury absence for Tosin expected to be short after “very minor” problem

Tosin Adarabioyo celebrates a goal. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Tosin Adarabioyo was revealed to have an injury in the Friday press conference ahead of our season opener against Crystal Palace a week ago, when manager Enzo Maresca told the media that the central defender had a “physical problem.”

That didn’t give us much, nor did his update after the game when he said “he had a physical problem. We don’t know for how long [he will be out].”

Well, the good news is that today’s report says that it’s a “very minor” issue and that essentially Tosin had hurt himself in the final Saturday training session and was left out more as a precaution than for any other reason.

That should mean he’s able to return to training this week – and may already have done so. The fact we play on Friday night does reduce his chances of playing somewhat, so we will have to find out more when the Italian coach speaks to the media again later this week.

Tosin key as Colwill replacement

The minor injury’s significance was amplified by the fact that Levi Colwill has been ruled out for the season. Maresca explained on Friday that he feels that Tosin is the one player that is capable of playing the same role that Colwill does, and it was clear in Sunday’s game that the team were indeed missing some progressive passing out from the back.

Maresca has since pushed for another defender to be signed – but we don’t think he’s going to get one.