Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane says Levi Colwill looks “brilliant” and he is “really hopeful” the defender will play a part in the final five games of the season.
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since August after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season, but returned to full first‑team training more than a month ago and has played twice for the under‑21s.
There is a chance Colwill could return for Nottingham Forest‘s visit to Stamford Bridge on Monday, although McFarlane said his comeback will need to be carefully managed.
“When someone’s had an injury for that long, you have to be patient,” McFarlane said. “We just need to manage his minutes, not push him too much.
“We don’t want to risk re‑injuring him, but he looks brilliant and he is in a really good place. We are really hopeful we will see him before the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer could make his first start since a minor hamstring setback that led to him missing the 3-0 defeat by Brighton that ended Liam Rosenior’s less than four-month spell as head coach.
The 23-year-old forward was only fit enough for the bench in Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds United.
“It has been a difficult period for him,” McFarlane said, amid increasing pressure for Palmer to rediscover his form before England manager Thomas Tuchel names his World Cup squad. “It is the first injury he has pretty much ever had in his career.
“There are obviously games he can impact more, but there have also been plenty of occasions where he has created good chances for others. He can’t control whether those chances are finished – he can only put the ball where it needs to be.
“He’s had some really good games over the past three months. It is just a case of building consistency, so overall I’m really pleased with him.
“He is still a top, top player – one of the best in the world. I’ve got no concerns about him being ready to impact games from now until the end of the season, and hopefully in the World Cup in the big moments for England.”