Colwill: Injury layoff made me more mature at 23

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill says he is entering a "new chapter" in his career after missing much of last season through injury, with a fresh outlook under head coach Xabi Alonso.

"This is a new chapter in my life and I'm feeling good," Colwill said. "I'm a different person, I've learned so much, but I feel like it's for the better, and I'm ready to push on."

The 23-year-old homegrown defender acknowledged the difficulties of recent years but said the experience had accelerated his development. "I've seen ups, downs, a big injury. I've probably been through more than an average player would normally go through in his career already. But it's all helped me in different ways, made me more experienced and a more mature head than probably most 23-year-olds out there."

Colwill also addressed the technical demands of playing in a back three, the system Chelsea have deployed this season under Alonso.

The comments were made in an exclusive interview published in Chelsea's matchday programme for Saturday's Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.