Ghana midfielder Michael Essien could be back for the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Juventus on March 10.
The midfielder has been out since he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury last September while playing for Ghana, but resumed outdoor training last week.
He is expected to be fit for first-team duty in six to eight weeks’ time, meaning he could be available for the game in Turin.
Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has said: “I lost five players when I lost Essien.”
Essien has played at full-back, centre-back and in every midfield role since arriving at Stamford Bridge in August 2005.