Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell is set to make his long-awaited return to action on Tuesday, as he is slated to feature against fourth-tier side Barrow in the League Cup third round. The 27-year-old found himself on the sidelines earlier this season under new manager Enzo Maresca, who had put Chilwell up for sale during the transfer window. However, Chilwell ultimately remained at Chelsea, returning to training with the first team after Maresca confirmed a ‘solution’ had been found.
Chilwell’s struggles stemmed from the arrival of Marc Cucurella in 2022, which pushed him down the pecking order. In the past two seasons, he also suffered hamstring and knee injuries, limiting his appearances to just 13 league games last term.
Chelsea reached the final of the League Cup last season under previous manager Mauricio Pochettino, ultimately falling short against Liverpool in extra time. Since taking over, Maresca’s side has faced a rocky start to the season, losing two out of seven matches across all competitions.
While acknowledging the team’s progress in terms of playing style, Maresca is still seeking better results. He stated, “I said that we are ahead of where we expected to be today but not in terms of results. In terms of progression and how we are playing (we are ahead). In terms of results, we are far from these clubs like (Manchester) City and Arsenal because we need to learn many things.”
The Italian manager is hoping to deliver a much-needed victory to the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge, where they have yet to win a league game this season. He said, “Hopefully, we can share some good moments at home in front of our fans.”
In addition to Chilwell’s return, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined from Maresca’s previous club Leicester City, will make his first start on Tuesday. Right back Malo Gusto, recovering from injury, will also be back in action. Long-term absentee Romeo Lavia could potentially feature against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this Saturday.
