For Levi Colwill, a decision made this summer before a ball was even kicked in anger has proven to be a catalyst for his incredibly consistent Chelsea form.

The Blues defender has arguably found himself as the first name on Enzo Maresca’s team-sheet this season, featuring in every game in our Premier League campaign so far and expected to slot in at centre-back once again when Aston Villa visit SW6 on Sunday afternoon.

For many, seeing Levi as the rock in the Chelsea backline comes as no surprise. However, for the man himself, deciding to return home to Southampton and live with his family on the South Coast has proven to be a wise move – a move that has contributed to his sparkling form.

‘Living at home, I’ve spoken about it before, but it’s made a huge difference to me both on and off the pitch,’ the defender told us when previewing our home meeting with Unai Emery’s Villa.

‘Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of travelling involved now but it’s all worth it and I couldn’t complain one bit about living at home. It’s been the best decision I’ve made.

‘I get treated so well there by my mum, dad and my little brother and of course being around my dog, Stormz! He’s amazing, I’ve created that bond with him again and it’s just the best feeling to come back to him after training and being around my family. It means a lot and I think being settled at home again has shown in my performances on the pitch.’

It’s that sense of comfort off the pitch that is helping Colwill perform so well on the pitch, while the defender has also thanked head coach Enzo Maresca for the trust he’s put in him.

The Italian has used Colwill through the season, particularly in the Premier League, and feels Levi is showing real leadership skills. The England international, in turn, has praised the impact Maresca has had since arriving in the summer.

The players are playing with confidence and, Levi feels, can continue with a positive result against a tough Villa side on Sunday.

‘There’s nothing more I can ask for; I’m really enjoying things,’ Colwill stated. ‘The gaffer has given me that trust to play my best football on the pitch and I have no excuses now.

‘Playing with Wes [Fofana] has been great, as has with Benoit [Badiashile] like I did against Leicester in the last Premier League game and then having players like [Marc] Cucurella and Reece [James] around you is amazing because they are all top, top players and people I can learn from.

‘I like to be put in a position where I can play my best football, help the team and show everyone what I can do. The gaffer has allowed me that opportunity and I just hope it carries on. I’m enjoying my football at the moment and really looking forward to Sunday’s game.

‘It’s nice to hear that the manager sees me as a leader but to be honest, I think I’ve always had leadership qualities in me and I did captain the side on a few occasions last season.

‘The guys know that I’m really growing as a player and as a person around the team and I’m always striving to help the side. I think the players can see that and hopefully I can continue to be seen as a leader in the team.

‘The manager has been brilliant. He’s come in, he’s instilled a lot of confidence into the group and you can see that from how he’s set us up.

‘We are going into games full of confidence and expecting to dominate possession and you can see that. We are creating a lot of chances, taking the game to the opponents and I think teams are looking at us as a threat.

‘We are playing good football and trying to win each game and that will be the same mentality for Sunday.

‘There’s no denying that Villa will be a tough test for us this weekend but we’re looking at it as a good opportunity to put on a show for the fans and record a good win.’