Chelsea FC have received a timely injury boost ahead of the December schedule with both Antonio Rudiger and Ross Barkley reporting for first-team training alongside their teammates.
Rudiger has been out of action since mid-September with a groin problem and he recently required a surgery in order to completely overcome the nagging issue.
On the other hand, Barkley has been absent for more than a month with his ankle concern but he seems on course for a comeback with his recent presence on the training ground in Cobham.
Though both players have returned to the training pitch, they have, however, been excluded from the travelling squad to Valencia, given their evident lack of fitness.
Blues boss Frank Lampard will no doubt want to handle both players with care ahead of a congested festive schedule and the duo could be slowly integrated into the squad with cameo roles off the bench.
Rudiger’s presence has been missed at the heart of the defence where Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori have made the occasional mistakes and it remains to be seen as to which player drops to the bench, when the German makes his comeback.
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