The Chelsea player who is becoming increasingly influential behind the scenes under Enzo Maresca

After a run of four games without a win, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side safely navigated their FA Cup tie against Morecambe at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca deployed a Chelsea eleven akin to the one he often uses in the UEFA Conference League, a secondও-string team that contains the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Joao Fel♉ix.

It’s something of an embarrassment of riches for Maresca, even if the Chelsea bo𓆏ss is still looking to 🔯improve his squad in other areas, notably in defence.

Against Morecambe, Maresca deployed a centre-back partnership of Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi, Chelsea’s back-up duo.

However, following a significant injury to Wesley Fofana, Tosin is🎐 now playing the starting role he hoped for at Chelsea af🔥ter making the switch from Fulham in the summer.

Tosin Adarabioyo has earned a new nickname at Chelsea

Although he was replaced for C𝕴helsea’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, Tosin played 90 minutes in a row in the four prior Premier League ma💧tches.

🐠And according to a new report by , the former Fulham defender is becoming increasingly influential behind the scenes𒆙 in west London, now nicknamed ‘Uncle’ by his teammates.

READ MORE: Why Enzo Maresca’s £12m summer𝔍 signing has already asked to leave Chelsea ﷽this month

In the summer, Tosin had several sides competing for his signature given that it became clear he would leave Fu𒈔lham as a free agent.

When choosing hi൲s next club, t♕he centre-back carefully considered where his character would be most needed, and Chelsea was the conclusion.

Tosin r🔯ecognised the chance to be an experienced voice in a young Premier League squad, an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.

And according to the report mentioned, Tosin madꦬe the right choice – sources close to the dressing room have confirmed that he’❀s already playing the ‘elder statesman’ role. 

Chelsea still chasing Marc Guehi return

Despite Tosin’s growi🌳ng role at the club, Chelsea are still targeting several options to improve Maresca’s back line in the future.

One of those is former Blue, Marc Guehi, who is ꦿnow captaining Crystal Palace.

Chelsea could bid for Guehi in January, a sign of how keen they are to bring the England intern♔ational back to west London, where he mig🍌ht partner Levi Colwill long-term.

Tosin will💙 certainly be a useful member of Maresca’s s𝓰quad moving forward, but it seems unlikely that he’ll be a guaranteed first-choice starter for much of his four-year contract.

Disasi is free to leave Chelsea, a messa🌜ge relayed to the defender back in the summer. 

And it seems as if Maresca is still far from fඣinished with his defensive rebuild.