In Focus: Colwill coming of age for club and country

Levi Colwill earned his first England cap at left-back as the Three Lions beat Australia last Friday.

The Chelsea defender has been filling in for the injured Ben Chilwell in the Premier League and could be called upon again by Gareth Southgate as eyes turn to the crunch Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy tonight.

Ahead of the Wembley clash, we turn the spotlight on the 20-year-old's rapid rise to the top.

Blue is the colour

Colwill had been part of the Chelsea youth setup for a decade but really caught the eye during the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Brighton.

The Southampton-born powerhouse aided the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, earning the South Coast outfit a spot in Europe for the first time.

He helped secure five clean sheets in 17 top-flight appearances and despite missing a lengthy amount of time through injury still stood out as one of the club's most exciting players.

Colwill was wanted by Roberto De Zerbi permanently in the summer but Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino made it clear that Colwill was in his plans for the upcoming campaign.

He has since started every league match under Poch and impressed the England boss in the process.

Levi's vow

Colwill was delighted to earn his first senior cap against the Socceroos and is eager for more opportunities at international level.

He said: "It was amazing. Hopefully we can build off the performance against Italy as a team and individuals and go from there.

"It is a different role but I have been playing there for my club and I am enjoying it.

"If it gives me a chance to start and to play, I'm all for it."

Setting an example

Chelsea's model of recruiting young talent is risky but Todd Boehly will view academy graduate Colwill as a success story when it comes to promoting up-and-coming prospects.

The defender has had experience playing alongside Thiago Silva and even picked up some of the veteran's traits on the pitch.

Only the Brazilian has completed more headed clearances than Colwill this season and the former Huddersfield loanee sits just behind him for possessions won in the defensive third.

Colwill is the leading defender when it comes to total tackles (16) and interceptions (six) with only Conor Gallagher trumping him across the entire squad.

He may only be 20 but the Stamford Bridge ace is proving that he is more than ready to step into an important role for both club and country.

Maturing early

Southgate usually relies on experience in his starting XI but admits he has been impressed by Colwill's impact with the senior squad.

The Three Lions boss said: "He can defend the box well like any young defender.

"With Levi, Marc [Guehi] and Fik [Fikayo Tomori], there is an element of looking to the future, because there's going to be a change in that area of the field. 

"Levi has a real maturity about his calmness with the ball. He's got good physical attributes."

Colwill will be hoping to earn his second cap for England against Italy in a high-stakes match that could see Southgate's men guarantee a place at Euro 2024 with victory.