Chelsea consider replacing Branislav Ivanovic with Kurt Zouma for crunch game

Chelsea FC manager José Mourinho has seen fit to use new left-back signing Abdul Baba Rahman only in cup competitions thus far this season, but the injury to the Blues’ vice-captain means that the Ghanaian could get his first taste of Premier League football this weekend.

Baba Rahman joined Chelsea from Augsburg this summer and is yet to make his Premier League debut.

Ivanovic’s form has been heavily criticised this season after he was given a torrid time on the day of the season by Swansea winger Jefferson Montero.

Ivanovic picked up a hamstring injury during the worldwide break and has been ruled out for three weeks.

Ivanovic returned to London after picking up the injury during Serbia’s 2-0 win over Albania on Thursday. He needs time to learn and adapt. The African full back has played for Chelsea in the Champions league and impressed in his first start for the club against Tel Aviv. If you don’t have a minimum of five tall players good in the air, you are dead on set-pieces. But Villa’s threat at Stamford Bridge is likely to revolve around Rudy Gestede, whose ability in the air is his forte, suggesting Mourinho may seek a solution elsewhere. “So we have to think about all the details”.

Other than facing a potential dilemma at right-back, Mourinho is expected to stay true to his word and find a place in his team for young midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the Villa game and will have striker Diego Costa available again from suspension.

Zouma, who has played in central defence this season and featured in midfield last term, can operate at full-back and may now deputise, with Gary Cahill – rested for England’s trip to Lithuania given recent back problems – and John Terry retained in the centre.

Another option would be France youngster Kurt Zouma playing at right-back.

Mourinho spent Monday night watching Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas in action for Spain in Ukraine, where Chelsea play Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League next week.