CHELSEA have suffered another major injury blow ahead of their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
Levi Colwill sustained an ACL injury last week and is expected to be out for the majority of the season.
Levi Colwill is set to miss the majority of the season due to an ACL tearGetty
GettyTosin Adarabioyo will not be risked against Crystal Palace[/caption]
But to add to Enzo Maresca‘s woes, Tosin Adarabioyo has joined Colwill in the treatment room.
The 27-year-old centre-back did not train today and will not feature against Palace tomorrow.
Tosin’s issue is not thought to be serious, but Chelsea did not want to take any risks.
Maresca views him as the only man who can play Colwill‘s role in the side “well”.
The boss explained: “When we build, we build with Levi in the middle.
“It’s different to playing on the left side. Last year we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin.
“Now Levi is out. The only one that can do that job well is Tosin.
“The one in the middle is the one that recognises solutions, he is the one most of the time that has to break lines and in my way they are so, so important.”
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Chelsea still have options at centre-back in Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah and Jorrel Hato.
Meanwhile, Palace are also set to be without a key man as Eberechi Eze nears a move to Tottenham.
Spurs are in talks over a move for the England star and the club are optimistic the deal will be done soon.
The speculation means Eze will not be at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Enzo Maresca views Tosin as integral to his tactical setupShutterstock Editorial Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
