Graham Potter has revealed that Chelsea’s key injured stars are making positive steps in recovery.
Potter has confirmed that defenders Reece James and Wesley Fofana are close to a return to full training as they continue their rehabilitation in Dubai in the Blues’ warm winter training camp.
Chelsea’s £75m summer centre-back signing Fofana has only played six times for the club since his arrival after picking up a knee injury in the bittersweet game against AC Milan where he scored his first and only Blues goal to date.
James also picked up his injury against Milan but it was in the away tie of the group stage where he limped off in the second half, as his England World Cup hopes were simultaneously dashed.
There was also a return for Ben Chilwell who likewise saw his Qatar dreams shattered in the dead rubber clash with Dinamo Zagreb, but isn’t as far along as the others.
Potter shared the good news of Fofana’s and James’ return to grass training in recent days via Chelsea’s official website.
He said: “Reece is not quite fully training but he’s integrating into training along with Wesley.
“Wesley is a little bit further behind but not too far.
“Ben has come back from his individual work in Dubai and he’s now working closer with the guys but still not team training.
“There are lots of players at different levels and that’s the challenge but we’re making progress so that’s the positive.”
TIF Thoughts on Potter’s comments…
It’s a huge lift for the Blues who will surely now see all three defenders return by the new year as their recovery progresses.
The Blues suffered massively in the run into Christmas with all three players, failing to win any of their final six domestic games before the World Cup break, even losing four in a row as they were knocked out of the EFL Cup and slipped to eighth in the league table, eight points off the top four.
Chelsea have a favourable return to action with a home clash against Bournemouth followed by a trip to Nottingham Forest, Potter will be hopeful he can call on all three players.