Wesley Fofana is closing in on a Chelsea comeback after returning to training.
Fofana has been out since the start of the December with a hamstring injury and there were initial fears he could miss the rest of the season.
But Enzo Maresca has confirmed the defender is back in training and could be back in action in “two or three weeks”.
The return of Fofana is a boost for Chelsea, who have been facing a centre-back shortage.
Benoit Badiashile has also been sidelined since December, leaving Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah, who was recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace in January, as the the only fit centre-backs available to Maresca.
“Wes Fofana started to work with us two days ago,” said Maresca on Thursday.
“That means he still needs two or three weeks to be 100 per cent fit. But at least he has started to work with us.”
Fofana has not played since being substituted in the second half of December’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Frenchman has been beset by injury problems since joining Chelsea from Leicester in a £75million deal in 2022.
