Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy believes the Blues should move to bring Nathan Ake back from Bournemouth this month to provide cover for Marcos Alonso.
Ake, who is able to operate in a number of positions and could fill Alonso's shoes if the wing-back was injured, is currently on a season-long loan at Bournemouth, having joined the Cherries in the summer.
The loan stint comes hot on the heels of another season-long loan, spent at Watford last season.
While Cundy feels Ake has been learning at Bournemouth, he believes the time is right for Blues boss Antonio Conte to recall him as Chelsea need vital cover for Alonso heading into the business end of the season.
"It's a great shout bringing Ake back", Cundy said on Chelsea TV.
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"He's been playing football regularly in the Premier League and doing exceptionally well, certainly in the games I've seen.
"And we've got no cover at wing-back.
"There's no natural replacement for Marcos Alonso on that side", he added.
Chelsea snapped up Ake from Feyenoord in 2011 and have spent time carefully managing his development.
It remains to be seen whether the Blues are prepared to cut short his loan at Bournemouth this month.
