Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been handed a huge injury boost after Mateo Kovacic returned to training, though he will not play in Wednesday’s Champions League game.
The Blues have been struggling with a number of absentees recently, with players like Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Kovacic all sidelined.
Kovacic has missed Chelsea’s last eight matches with a hamstring injury suffered in the last minute of a training session in October, but he is now on the verge of a return.
According to The Times, the 27-year-old midfielder has recovered from the problem and returned to full training this week.
Although Chelsea need to beat Zenit Saint Petersburg when they travel to Russia on Wednesday in their final Champions League game to guarantee top spot, Kovacic is not expected to be part of the travelling team.
The London side do not want to take any risks with the Croatian and they are instead targeting a return in Saturday’s Premier League game with Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s injury woes continued at the weekend against West Ham United, with Kai Havertz and Marcos Alonso both having to be substituted with injuries.
In midfield, Jorginho has been playing with a hip injury while Saul Niguez was once again taken off after just 45 minutes in the recent match with Watford.
The Spain international could now be forced to play at left wing-back if Alonso has to join Chilwell on the treatment table for a long period of time.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been picked to partner Jorginho while Kante and Kovacic have been sidelined, but the Croatian is expected to come straight back into the starting lineup in place of the English midfielder as soon as he is fit.
