Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reveals replacement for the injured Branislav Ivanovic

JOSE MOURINHO is considering handing Baba Rahman his Premier League debut against Aston Villa.

Branislav Ivanovic was injured on international duty with Serbia and faces a month out with a damaged hamstring.

One option for Mourinho is moving Cesar Azpilicueta to right-back and handing summer signing Baba Rahman a start in defence.

The Ghanaian has made two appearances for Chelsea since joining from Augsburg in August, though he is yet to make his Premier League debut.

"I go back to one of the best defenders the Premier League has ever had, Ricardo Carvalho," said Mourinho.

"He was in big trouble for three, four, five months.

"He said he couldn’t adapt to the change from the Portuguese League and the Champions League to the Premier League: the way attacking players were playing, the way he had to adapt and learn how to use his position and his body.

"He was a super player but it was hard for him for three or four months.

"It’s a problem of experience and being adapted to the Premier League.

"It’s depends on the characteristics of the player.

"Baba is really good with the ball, he’s very fast, but he’s learning how we play and how we defend.

"The fact he came to us in the last days of the market took from him the possibility to work in pre-season, but he’s a good player for sure and we trust him."

Chelsea face Aston Villa this afternoon looking to bounce back from the defeat to Southampton in their last Premier League outing.