Chelsea handed Tosin Adarabioyo injury boost as defender set for training return

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Evening Standard

·19 August 2025

Chelsea handed Tosin Adarabioyo injury boost as defender set for training return

Exclusive: The defender has avoided serious injury after missing the draw with Crystal Palace

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Chelsea have been handed a huge injury boost with Tosin Adarabioyo expected back to training this week.

The defender was ruled out of Chelsea’s opening game of the new Premier League season on Sunday - a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace - with what Enzo Maresca described as a “physical problem”.

Sources close to the situation have since told Standard Sport that the issue is “very minor” and the player was withdrawn from the matchday squad as a preventative measure.

It came after he failed to complete the team’s training session on Saturday.

It is understood that the plan as things stand is for Tosin to return to training this week, though that has not been set in stone yet as he continues to be monitored closely.

Tosin remains a doubt for Friday’s trip to face West Ham at the London Stadium at this stage, but he is expected back playing soon.

Speaking after the Palace draw, manager Enzo Maresca said: “He had a physical problem. We don’t know for how long [he will be out].”

In his press conference on Friday, Maresca explained that he feels Tosin is the only centre-back at the club able to deputise for the injured Levi Colwill in the middle of Chelsea’s back three when the team are in possession.

He sees the former Fulham man as an important player and had to adapt by starting Josh Acheampong against Palace once it was then decided on Saturday that Tosin had to miss the match.

Maresca has made it clear that he wants Chelsea to sign another centre-back to cover the loss of Colwill to an ACL injury that is set to keep him out of action for the majority of the season.

Chelsea’s hierarchy are less minded to oblige, however, and have faith in Maresca to use Tosin, Acheampong, new signing Jorrel Hato and others to find solutions from within.