Colwill’s comeback has not been about easing through low-stakes minutes. He has been thrown into heavyweight fixtures and, by the sound of McFarlane’s reaction, has handled them with maturity as well as quality.
That matters for Chelsea, who have badly needed reliable, composed defenders, but it matters for England too. Left-footed centre-backs remain a valuable profile at the top level, and Colwill appears to have reminded people quickly of why he has long been rated so highly.
McFarlane’s most revealing line was not only about talent. "Lesões fazem parte disso, e ele mostrou uma força mental e um caráter muito bons para superar isso e atuar em Anfield e também na final da FA Cup. Estou muito, muito animado com ele, e ele fez muito pelo time, não só em campo, mas também fora dele. Foram dois jogos brilhantes para ele e esperamos que termine a temporada em alta," the coach said.
That speaks to more than form. It speaks to resilience, dressing-room value and trust - the kind of details managers weigh heavily when a player is returning from a long layoff.
The immediate expectation is that Colwill will be protected rather than overused, which feels sensible after such a long absence. But that only sharpens the focus on Sunderland.
If he is fit enough to feature there, it could be his final chance to make one more impression before Thomas Tuchel settles on his World Cup squad. For Chelsea, it is a hopeful sign for next season. For Colwill, it may be the biggest week of all.