The Blues have had to make do without Colwill at the heart of our defence for virtually the whole of the 2025/26 campaign, with his last start for the first team coming in our triumphant FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain in the USA back in July.

After easing back into the action with an appearance for Chelsea Under-21s and coming off the bench at half-time in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest, the centre-back made his return to the starting line-up in our 1-1 draw away at Liverpool.

It was an impressive comeback, as he demonstrated just why he has been such a big miss for the Blues during his absence since suffering an injury in pre-season.

‘I thought he was exceptional, I’m really pleased for Levi,’ said McFarlane, when asked for his view on the defender’s performance after the final whistle had blown on Merseyside.

‘I thought Levi was the best player on the pitch. He gives you the ability to play out from the back, he's a leader and that was his first 90 minutes in a long time.

‘He's been injured for a long time. Playing his first 90 minutes at Anfield away when the team aren't particularly in the best form, to go and put that level of performance in, it doesn't only show his level of talent and quality, it shows his mentality.

‘So I’m really pleased for Levi, as I am for the whole group and the team.’

When it was suggested the defender could now be in contention to start again when we take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley next week, Calum’s response was simple and emphatic: ‘Yeah, definitely.’

The Chelsea interim head coach also highlighted the performance of Cucurella, who was pushed forward to join our attack, filling in on the left wing to cover for a shortage of experienced options in that area at Anfield, as shown by the presence of 17-year-old wingers Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Mathis Eboue on the bench.

However, despite spending most of his Blues career at left-back, the Spaniard looked at home further forward, repeatedly catching out the Liverpool defence with his runs into the left-hand channel.

‘He is not a winger, but he has played there before, he told me,’ explained McFarlane.

‘But even when he plays left-back or when he rolls into midfield, his movement off the ball is of a real high quality – the timing, the understanding of when to do it.

‘So it's something that we knew with him in that position we could maybe expose. He was unlucky not to get an assist and he created a lot of problems for them.’

It seems Colwill and Cucurella have both given McFarlane plenty to think about as he prepares to name his next starting XI, for Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.