Chelsea midfielder Yuri Zhirkov is close to returning from his injury after he trained with his teammates. Mikel has resumed training less than three weeks after he suffered a knee ligament injury in the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal. He was expected to be out for a month but the midfielder could be ready for the trip to Bolton on 24 January.

Yuri Zhirkov, who hasn’t featured since November due to a calf and Achilles problem, is in light training while Alex is back at the club after an operation in Brazil on a knee injury and is on target to return next month.