Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has played a more prominent role for the team in the last few weeks, but does Xabi Alonso truly consider him a regular starter?

Acheampong has played a full 90 minutes in all of Chelsea’s five games in all competitions since the last international break, four of which were in the Premier League. He is expected to make his sixth consecutive start for the Blues against Sunderland this weekend.

This is quite a change, a welcome one for many fans, given that the 20-year-old had just two Premier League starts before the international break.

One of the key factors in Acheampong’s increased minutes is Alonso’s tactical shift. 

Earlier in the season, Chelsea played in a flat back five off the ball as Alonso tried to minimise the space between his defenders in the defensive third. This has since changed. Even when playing on a back five on paper, the Blues now play in a 4-4-2 shape off the ball. 

Chelsea may not be as compact defensively with the new shape, but the extra body in the middle third allows them to compete more for the ball higher up the pitch.

Pedro Neto is usually the one to step up into the midfield when he plays as a right wing-back, and this is where Acheampong’s versatility comes into play.

The Chelsea academy graduate can play as both a centre-back and a right-back, which puts him ahead of Wesley Fofana in the pecking order. Based on recent matches, Acheampong seems to be ahead of even natural right-back Malo Gusto and Marco Palestra for the right full-back position.

There is no reason why Alonso would not want to continue to start Acheampong in the next couple of months. The young defender has the technical and athletic abilities to play as a centre-back and a full-back, and he has performed well enough to keep his spot.

The real test will come when Reece James, who is expected to be out at least until late December after undergoing knee surgery, eventually re-enters the picture.

While Alonso has exclusively used James in midfield this season, the Chelsea captain is naturally a right-back, and he should be considered in a back-four formation. Additionally, Moises Caicedo’s injury return has also reduced the need for James’ physicality in midfield.

It is hard to imagine Acheampong getting ahead of James at right-back, and if he does not, he will then have to compete with Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill for the starting centre-back roles in a back-four system.

So, Alonso’s choice of formation will play a big part in determining Acheampong’s minutes, because he is more likely to start in a back three or five than a back four.

Regardless, James, as well as Lacroix, will not return to action for a while, and in the meantime, Acheampong is expected to continue to be a regular in Chelsea’s starting XI.