England’s left-back in the Republic of Ireland was Levi Colwill, a centre-back. For Finland, it was Rico Lewis, a right-back. Ben Chilwell represented his country in March and yet, even amid such shortages, he has never been further from the Three Lions’ line-up.
That’s because Chilwell hasn’t been training with Chelsea’s first team, let alone playing in the Premier League as a 27-year-old Englishman who should be entering the prime of his career.
Health is not the issue. Chilwell took part in the pre-season tour of the United States, where he was present at all training sessions and two games, after maintaining his annual tradition of triumphing in the club’s running events alongside Malo Gusto.
Nor is his attitude, with last season’s vice-captain taking on ambassadorial duties on that trip, such as visiting the home of a Chelsea super-fan named Bradley in Atlanta during his free time.
The problem is that, like Raheem Sterling, he learned on his return to London that he is not in Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans. There had been some insinuations in the United States, when the new Chelsea manager mentioned all the left-backs while discussing with reporters gathered in Santa Clara who suited his style of play, but the confirmation was no less crushing.
Ben Chilwell remains out of Chelsea’s first team after being left adrift this season
Chilwell faces a similar situation to Raheem Sterling, who has joined Arsenal on loan.
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (pictured) does not see Chilwell as a starter
The difference between Sterling and Chilwell now is that one secured his transfer (arguably an upgrade by joining Mikel Arteta’s title rivals Arsenal with Chelsea subsidising his wages) while the other remains the forgotten footballer on wages of around £200,000 a week.
Chelsea would like him to play for the next four months rather than remain in purgatory, but Chilwell is currently fit to stay and sources said yesterday that he is not close to a move to a country where the transfer window remains open.
That includes Turkey, where rumours had suggested Jose Mourinho would take him to Fenerbahce after they sold their left-back Ferdi Kadioglu to Brighton. Barring a drastic change between now and Friday night, when the Turkish window closes, Chilwell will remain at Cobham until at least January.
Chilwell’s entourage insists there is no point in not using him and says it is better to put their player in the shop window rather than put him away and ruin his chances of recouping anything close to the £50m he paid Leicester in August 2020.
They also revealed that Chilwell had hoped to be included in the Conference League squad submitted to UEFA last week in order to get a minimum of playing time. Even if it was a trip to Kazakhstan in December to face Astana, where temperatures can drop so low that the weather freezes nose hairs, beggars can’t be choosers.
Indeed, sources claim that he had been warned that Chelsea would leave several of their star players, including Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, out of the squad so that they could manage their minutes. However, when the squad for the next phase of the Conference League, in which Chelsea will play six games, was confirmed, Chilwell was ignored.
Chilwell has also lost his place in the England squad and is determined to get his call-up one day.
Chilwell is back in top form after completing pre-season training with Chelsea, including a tour of the United States
Chilwell has not been training with Chelsea’s first team, let alone playing in the Premier League as a 27-year-old Englishman who should be entering the prime of his career.
Chelsea will announce their 25-man Premier League squad on Friday. At least eight must be ‘from the youth system’ and Chilwell fits the bill, but Maresca has already insisted that those who train separately will not play with him.
If he is ruled out as expected, the Carabao Cup would be Chilwell’s only hope of competing between now and the opening of the next window. League Two side Barrow are due to visit Stamford Bridge in the third round of that competition in two weeks’ time and, once again, sources say Chilwell would be more than happy to be involved if given the chance.
Chelsea declined to share their plans for Chilwell on Tuesday when asked about who he is now training with at Cobham, given the departure of many members of the club’s so-called “bomb squad” from Trevoh Chalobah to Crystal Palace and Kepa Arrizabalaga to Bournemouth.
Chilwell was offered to Premier League clubs in the summer, his name came up in talks with Manchester United over Jadon Sancho but it ended with the 24-year-old joining on loan with an obligation to buy.
Brentford were also in the market for a left-back but Bees sources say Chilwell never made it onto their shortlist as they eventually secured 18-year-old Jayden Meghoma from Southampton as competition for Rico Henry.
Inevitably, Chilwell’s wages have been an issue in Chelsea’s search for a potential buyer, along with the red flag of his injury history after suffering more setbacks than he would have liked.
Chilwell previously won the Champions League with Chelsea during his early years at the club.
Chelsea declined to share their plans for Chilwell when asked about them on Tuesday.
Chilwell, known to everyone as “Chilly”, is popular at Chelsea. One of the few who was at the club before the new owners took over in May 2022, he has been a mentor to young hopefuls. Maresca himself describes him as a “lovely guy”, although he warned that he will “find it hard” to get back under his command.
Whatever the case, it is an unfortunate turn of events for the left-back, who has ‘1235’ tattooed below his left knee, signifying his pride at becoming the 1,235th player to represent England. As the Three Lions took to the hallowed turf of Wembley last night, he could only have wondered when he might get that chance again.
