Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed his plans for the backline after another injury blow rocked the Blues’ defence.

Levi Colwill has undergone surgery on an ACL injury sustained in training, ruling him out of action and leaving the squad short of centre-back options. Wesley Fofana is also expected to be out for around two weeks.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brighton, Maresca underlined his belief in young defender Josh Acheampong to help fill the gap.

Maresca said: “I already showed trust and confidence with Josh Acheampong last season. When we played Josh away at Palace and at home versus Bournemouth, the reason why was not because we had any central defenders.

“We trust Josh. He was ill this week but had a session yesterday with us.”

The 19-year-old academy graduate impressed in limited opportunities last term, and Maresca made clear that those appearances were a deliberate show of faith rather than a last-resort decision.

“Part of my job is to find solutions when we have some problems in terms of numbers,” the Chelsea boss explained.

With Colwill out and senior options already stretched, some fans have speculated about the possibility of recalling Axel Disasi. However, Maresca poured cold water on that idea.

He pointed out: “There is not any information from the club to consider that. At the moment, it is not an option.”

Chelsea’s injury list has left Maresca with limited choices, but his confidence in Acheampong is a clear statement of intent. Rather than seeking external fixes, the head coach is prepared to lean on the club’s Cobham talent pool.

The Blues need a strong performance against Brighton, and with Acheampong potentially featuring, it could be another chance for a homegrown defender to make his mark in blue.