The latest on the fitness of Chelsea defender Levi Colwill with the England defender getting closer to making his long-awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury
08:00, 21 Feb 2026
Levi Colwill
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Levi Colwill has not played for Chelsea this season(Image: Martin Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images)
Liam Rosenior has said he is "hopeful" Levi Colwill will play for Chelsea this season as the defender continues work on his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Back in August of last year, in his first training session following the Blues' Club World Cup triumph in the United States, the 22-year-old defender sustained an ACL injury. Colwill has been out running on the grass at the club's training base in Cobham over the last few weeks as he nears his return to action.
Chelsea will not rush Colwill back from the serious injury as they look to ensure he is 100% ready before green lighting his return to first-team action. Rosenior, while reluctant to give a specific time frame on the England international's return, is "hopeful" the defender will be able to feature for the west Londoners before the season concludes.
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"I'm hopeful," Rosenior said. "I'm hopeful because he's an outstanding player. Again, no time frames.
"You have to take these long-term injuries day by day. And also, it's not about when he comes back, it's about him staying fit when he is back."
Colwill is extremely highly rated at Stamford Bridge and remains central to the club's long-term plan, football.london understands, despite Chelsea being in for a defender in the January transfer window. The Blues will try to sign a centre-back again when the summer window opens but sources say any addition to the club's defensive ranks must complement the Cobham graduate.
Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah have formed a strong centre-back partnership in Colwill's absence this season. But there is a feeling that having a left-footed defender, like Colwill, will add more balance to the side.
Colwill will be keen to get back on the pitch as soon as possible with the World Cup on the horizon, with the fact he has played no football at all this season makes it unlikely that Thomas Tuchel will call upon the Chelsea defender.
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Elsewhere on the injury front, Marc Cucurella has been ruled out of this afternoon's Premier League clash with Burnley due to a hamstring injury. Rosenior was once again unable to inform on how long the Spain international will be missing for, but he will be unavailable at Stamford Bridge later today.
Reece James and Cole Palmer have trained this week and are expected to be named in the squad versus the Clarets. Both James and Palmer have been struggling with fitness issues recently but are set to take part as Chelsea aim to move back into the top four this afternoon - something that will happen if they avoid defeat against the Premier League's 19th-placed side.
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