TOSIN ADARABIOYO is the closest thing Chelsea have to John Terry as they look for a leader to end their mini-slump.
Blues head coach Enzo Maresca insists he has plenty of inspirational figures in his dressing room that can help turn around their dip in form.
Defender Tosin, 27, is part of a group of senior players charged with rallying the troops when times are tough like now.
Reece James remains club captain and will wear the armband should he make it on to the pitch today at Crystal Palace following injury.
But Maresca said: “We have different profiles of players who are leaders in different ways.
“We have different kinds of characters. The one that is most vocal in the dressing room is Tosin. He does that kind of job.
“Sometimes you have different kinds of leaders. Leaders that don’t talk much but, when they do, the rest listen a lot.”
Tosin is one of the oldest players in Maresca’s youthful squad and readily accepts the challenge of leadership.
He joins forces to keep up morale and promote unity in the dressing room alongside vice-captain Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill and James when fit.
The centre-back was part of a similar inner sanctum at Fulham alongside Harrison Reed, Tim Reem and skipper Tom Cairney last season.
He was targeted by Chelsea co-director of recruitment Joe Shields for that reason among others.
Maresca said: “We have Moises that behaves fantastically.
“Enzo is improving a lot, Levi is improving a lot. Reece is one of them but in his own way.
“We have Tosin that does that kind of job and Marcus Betinelli. We have different characters and with age they are going to be better and better. But they are different, all of them.”
Legend Terry remains a true blue symbol of Chelsea having played 717 games for them over 17 years.
And the highly-decorated former defender is still revered by the fans.
Maresca needs everyone pulling in the same direction as he bids to end a run of three games without a win, including two defeats over Christmas.
They are clinging to fourth spot by just three points from in-form Newcastle.
There is more grim news for Chelsea’s Italian manager with him now predicting Tosin’s defensive team-mate Wesley Fofana may well miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
They had lost just one in eight games before the £70million Frenchman was hurt in a freak accident stepping on the ball to challenge Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins last month.
Maresca said: “Unfortunately he could be out for the season, we don’t know exactly.
“We have been together here since I started, and every time you ask me about Wes, I have said many times that I’m in love with him because he is the kind of defender that gives you the chance to press and be aggressive. With Wes, we are a better team.”
Chelsea are holding off on surgery but do not be surprised if Fofana goes under the knife in yet another disappointing episode for the player who missed almost a year with a knee problem.
Fellow centre-half Benoit Badiashile is also out until mid-February, which is why Maresca has recalled Aaron Anselmino from his loan spell at Argentine side Boca Juniors.
Maresca will not rule out bringing back another defender from loan to ease his crisis.
Chelsea have also been linked with Ipswich striker Liam Delap as they look for goals to get back on track.
But Maresca said: “We have a young striker in Marc Guiu, who is doing very well in the Conference League. I haven’t given him enough minutes in the Premier League to prove it.
“Hopefully we can start to give him some minutes very soon.”
Chelsea ratings vs Ipswich as Blues defenders have a shocker and only ONE star can hold his head high
CHELSEA made it back-to-back losses as they slumped to an awful 2-0 defeat at Ipswich.
Enzo Maresca’s side went into the match hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 home loss to Fulham on Boxing Day.
But instead saw their title hopes take another massive dent after goals from Liam Delap and old-boy Omari Hutchinson.
On a night to forget for the Blues, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates and slates each performer...
FILIP JORGENSEN – 6
His first bit of action was a clumsy trailing leg to catch Delap and give away a needless penalty.
Followed it up with a few decent stops to deny the forward anything else, but the damage was already done.
AXEL DISASI – 4
Offered very little until a fine pass early in the second half to put Madueke through.
But that was then overshadowed by a woeful piece of defending to give the hosts a second goal, first with a stray pass to Delap and then giving Hutchinson the freedom of Ipswich to slot home.
TOSIN ADARABIOYO – 5
Struggled to deal with Delap, physically and for pace. Looked terrified to press him. Lumbered about for most of the game.
LEVI COLWILL – 6
Looks so much better with a proper defensive partner, unlike here.
Not his best game, but not his worst.
MARC CUCURELLA – 5
Nervy clearance off Hutchinson almost gave Delap a second inside 15 minutes and caught out of position plenty when Ipswich countered.
Poor in attacking areas.
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 6
A real mixed bag.
Picked up some good pockets of space but out-muscled on occasion.
MOISES CAICEDO – 6
Blazed over a glorious chance from the edge of the box off his left peg.
Controlled the game well from deep at times.
NONI MADUEKE – 7
Involved in everything good with Chelsea, taking on defenders and unlucky not to grab a first half goal.
Linked up well with Palmer and Enzo.
COLE PALMER – 8
A joy to watch. His cleverly-disguised free-kick smacked the post and his cross for Joao Felix at the far post to score from was delightful, only to be called back for offside.
He was then denied a curling beauty by a worldie save. Did not deserve to be on the losing side. Best player on the pitch by a mile.
JOAO FELIX – 6
Perhaps a harsh one but should have stayed onside before tapping in Palmer’s brilliant cross to level the scores.
Had a header cleared off the line just after the break.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 5
An anonymous first half was followed up by more anonymity in the second before being hauled off just after the hour mark.
Feels like he has wasted a huge chance given to him by Maresca to prove he can be the difference maker.
SUBS
NICOLAS JACKSON (for Felix, 55) – 6
Missed a blatant one v one, spared blushes by a delayed offside flag.
JADON SANCHO – (for Nkunku, 65) – 6
Did very little, but the game was pretty much done by the time he came on.
MALO GUSTO (for Disasi, 77) – 6
Came on just so Disasi could make way, it seems. Made his presence known by getting into a late scrap with Davis.
PEDRO NETO (for Madueke, 77) – 5
Brought some zip, but let himself down by going down soft holding his face from a Kalvin Phillips ‘challenge’.
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