Enzo Maresca suggests whether Tosin Adarabioyo or Wesley Fofana is more likely to play for Chelsea vs West Ham

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Enzo Maresca had limited centre-back options to choose from in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.

Within days of returning to Cobham for pre-season training, Levi Colwill suffered an ACL injury that will see him out until 2026.

Wesley Fofana is still working towards full fitness after an extended period on the sidelines, while Tosin Adarabioyo has also picked up a knock.

So, Maresca picked Trevoh Chalobah and academy graduate Josh Acheampong as his centre-back partnership for the game against Palace.

Now, the Blues boss has suggested whether Adarabioyo or Fofana could return to the starting eleven for the trip to West Ham on Friday.

• READ MORE: Robert Sanchez’s comments after Palace draw suggest Chelsea will find 2025/26 season difficult

Enzo Maresca drops injury update on Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana

Maresca first shared a concerning update on Adarabioyo’s fitness after the Palace game. “Tosin had a physical problem. We don’t know for how long,” he told the Chelsea website.

This suggests that Adarabioyo will also miss the West Ham fixture on Friday, with a return to the line-up against Fulham the following weekend more likely.

However, Fofana could make his first appearance of the 2025/26 season against the Hammers, having made the substitutes bench on Sunday.

Maresca continued: “Wes was on the bench, but was just on the bench to be with us, and the plan was for him not to get any minutes. Now hopefully, for the next one, we can use Wes for some minutes.”

Even if Fofana finds himself on the bench again versus West Ham, it seems like Maresca would be willing to bring him on this time.

Josh Acheampong deserves another start vs West Ham

Josh Acheampong is currently Chelsea’s fifth-choice centre-back, behind Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana.

This would normally lead to very little playing time, but given the Blues’ injury concerns, Acheampong could have an important role this season.

He made his third Premier League start in the 0-0 draw against Palace on Sunday, and did not look out of place next to Chalobah.

The 19-year-old dealt with Jean-Philippe Mateta, one of the most physical strikers in Europe, with relative ease and looked comfortable driving into midfield.

Acheampong’s only mistakes were a few misplaced passes, but he definitely showed enough to prove that he deserves another start away to West Ham on Friday.