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.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea a long way from competing with Premier League’s best after loss to Ipswich ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366570454112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“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.”