Chelsea star ruled out for majority of season after suffering injury on first day back

Chelsea and England star Levi Collwill has undergone surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) following a severe knee injury sustained on the first day of pre-season training. With the defender now expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Chelsea could potentially join the race to sign their former player Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

Chelsea's squad only returned to training on Monday, a mere three weeks after their FIFA Club World Cup victory in New Jersey on July 13. On Thursday, head coach Enzo Maresca disclosed that Colwill had encountered "a problem" during training and the club was awaiting a diagnosis. The results from a scan conducted on Wednesday led to Colwill promptly - and successfully - undergoing surgery.

The club issued a statement which read: "Defender Levi Colwill has today undergone successful surgery to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 22-year-old had reported back to Cobham for pre-season at the start of this week, before unfortunately sustaining the injury in training.

"Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action. Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase."

Maresca explained: "It was in the final moments of the first session on Monday. He felt something and, as I said, we need to wait and then we see."

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The Blues academy graduate made 47 appearances for both club and country last season, contributing to the West London club's UEFA Conference League win and Champions League qualification.

When questioned if Colwill's injury would necessitate Chelsea re-entering the transfer market for cover this summer, Maresca responded: "It depends. We need to wait and then we see.

"But we know each other from last year and, you know in our way, how important Levi has been. I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him - and he was a main player for us."

Chelsea offloaded Guehi to Palace for a cool £18million in 2021. The England defender is now entering the final year of his contract, with Liverpool and Newcastle - who made a bid last summer - also keen on securing his services.

Chelsea have already splashed out £37m on Ajax's teenage defender Jorrel Hato, but Maresca has revealed that Wesley Fofana, who had hamstring surgery in April, is not yet fit to return for the upcoming friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday and AC Milan on Sunday.

"Wes is back," Maresca confirmed. "He is training with us. I don't think he is ready to get minutes in the next two games - but probably he can be available for the Palace game."