The aim – Rosenior targets consistent availability for Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has acknowledged the club’s ongoing struggle for defensive stability and placed the rehabilitation of Wesley Fofana at the heart of his plans, insisting the Frenchman can yet become a reliable week-to-week presence.

Injuries and fitness interruptions have shredded Chelsea’s back-line continuity this season, with Levi Colwill sidelined long-term and fellow centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo also spending spells on the treatment table. While Fofana’s recent absences were triggered by concussion symptoms and a bout of illness rather than structural damage, his broader history of breakdowns has prevented the 23-year-old from anchoring the defence on a regular basis.

“He’s had injury issues and I want to make sure he doesn’t break down again,” Rosenior said. “He’s an outstanding player. They will always want consistency in your back line. I’m sure we’ll get there in the end.”

Evidence of progress surfaced earlier this month when Fofana completed back-to-back matches for the first time in months, starting the Carabao Cup tie at Arsenal and following up in the Premier League visit of Wolves. The defender dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s FA Cup date with Leeds United but still managed an 11-minute cameo, a scenario that would have been unlikely under previous regimes that left him out of the squad entirely.

Rosenior, who has paired Fofana with academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah for the bulk of the campaign, believes the recent workload is a milestone rather than the destination. “For the first time in a long time, he played back-to-back from midweek to the weekend. That’s a really positive sign,” the coach noted. “The aim for every player is to build them to a point where they can play every game. That’s the aim and we’re not quite there yet. But with the medical team that I’m working with and the way we’re working, I’m confident we can get him there.”

Chelsea will hope the incremental approach pays dividends, because a settled central pairing is viewed inside the club as a prerequisite for any sustained climb up the table. For now, Rosenior’s message is one of cautious optimism: the talent is undeniable, the minutes are creeping upward, and the target of twice-a-week availability remains firmly in sight.