Enzo Maresca has said Levi Colwill has the potential to be a future captain of Chelsea.
Fellow defender Reece James currently wears the armband but has missed large parts of the season because of injury.
He last played as a late substitute in the draw with Arsenal on 10 November and did not make it off the bench in Monday’s 2-0 loss at Ipswich. However, James could start at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The club skipper’s absence has left Maresca searching for alternative leaders, and he namechecked 21-year-old Colwill on Friday.
“I can see day by day, since we started pre-season, it’s something [leadership] that he can improve. He is improving a lot,” said the Blues boss.
“Even if he doesn’t wear the armband, he is one of the captains. In future, he could be one of the captains for this club.”