Antonio Conte hopes to welcome Kurt Zouma and Cesc Fabregas back to first-team action soon after confirming both Chelsea players are nearing full fitness.
Zouma has been sidelined since suffering knee ligament damage in Chelsea's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United in February, which required surgery that ruled the Frenchman out of the latter stages of last season and this summer's European Championships.
The 21-year-old has been building up his fitness levels since, and got his first taste of action in eight months when Chelsea's Under-23s side hosted Derby on Monday.
Conte expects Zouma to back in contention for a place in his three-man defence soon, saying: "Zouma played a game with the Under-23s and the physical answer was good.
"Now we prefer him to play another game on Monday and if it’s all okay he will come back to us.
"I am very happy because I can have another central defender and a good central defender, a young one with great potential."
The 21-year-old has been building up his fitness levels since, and got his first taste of action in eight months when Chelsea's Under-23s side hosted Derby on Monday.
The centre-back was then replaced by Dujon Sterling at the break, but Chelsea's development squad went on to haul themselves back into the contest and eventually secure a 2-2 draw.
As for Fabregas - who has been out with a thigh injury and has struggled to start for the Blues this season - Conte added: "[He] stayed with us in a part of the training session on Friday, when we tried offensive movements, and I think he will be ready next week."
Fabregas posted a video of himself completing simple training drills on his Instagram account in a bid to prove his fitness.
The midfielder then followed it up with a picture of himself training with the caption: "Good to be back with the team. A little bit short for Sunday but feeling great".
