Chelsea have been boosted by the news key midfielders Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel are closing in on a return to fitness.
Lampard has been struggling with a calf injury that forced him to miss the last three games, while a hamstring injury has kept Mikel on the sidelines for the last seven weeks.
However the duo both returned to training on Wednesday and there is a good chance that Lampard could be available for this weekend's trip to Goodison Park when the Blues will take on Everton.
The game is likely to come too soon for Mikel though as Chelsea do not want to rush him back too quickly in case the Nigerian suffers a setback and faces more time on the sidelines.
The duo's return comes at a good time for under-pressure Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas as fellow midfielder Ramires is on the sidelines with a knee injury.