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Nemanja Matic could make an immediate return after suspension for Chelsea's Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho allowed Matic to enjoy a "holiday" while forced to sit out Saturday's Premier League defeat at Newcastle.
Serbia midfielder Matic lost his record of starting all Chelsea's Barclays Premier League games after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 3-0 victory over Tottenham.
Mourinho could well rotate his squad for Sporting's Stamford Bridge visit, with Chelsea already assured of top spot in Group G and safe passage to the last 16.
"He has a little bit of a holiday, a free weekend that he deserves very, very much: and he will come back stronger," said Mourinho of Matic.
"If one player has a free weekend for example, obviously he is ready to play again three or four more matches in a row.
"I keep saying that I think it's very, very difficult for a player to play every game in December.
"So if we have eight matches, I would say the maximum a player can play is seven."
Mourinho previously always balked at suggestions he has a clear first-choice XI at Chelsea, but has now conceded a nucleus of trusted lieutenants is developing at Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese boss is wary of asking too much of his squad in a challenging January, so the likes of frontline striker Diego Costa and defender Brainslav Ivanovic could be handed a timely rest.
Mourinho will still balance pragmatism with maintaining bragging rights against his countrymen however, as he continues to eye trophies - not records.
Chelsea now have six first-team stars who have started all 15 Premier League games this term, indicating Mourinho's increasingly-settled line-up.
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John Obi Mikel started in place of Matic at St James' Park against Newcastle on Saturday, so Ramires could come into contention to face Sporting.
