Wesley Fofana has returned to the pitch at Cobham with the defender doing some light running work on the grass, football.london understands.

The 24-year-old is currently absent with a serious hamstring injury that he suffered at the start of last month in the win against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Fofana has had a torrid time on the injury front since signing for the Blues in August 2022, for a fee that could eventually rise to £75million. Chelsea have played 125 games in total since the Frenchman signed two-and-a-half years ago but the defender has only featured in 32 of them, starting 29.

However, there is no rush from Chelsea's point of view. football.london understands the plan is to ease Fofana back with the club eager not to rush his rehabilitation process. There is a feeling that the French defender is now making good progress and there is a hope he will be fit to play before the end of the season.

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This is positive news for Chelsea with head coach Enzo Maresca admitting earlier this month there was a fear that Fofana had already played his final game this season.

"Unfortunately, Wes will be out for a very long time," Maresca said earlier this month when asked about Fofana's situation. When quizzed on whether that could be for the remainder of the season, the Chelsea head coach replied: "Unfortunately he could be out for the season, yeah. We don't know exactly. He could be out for part of the season."

Fofana was integral for Maresca prior to his injury. The former Leicester City centre-back started 12 of Chelsea's 13 Premier League games up until he was forced off on 60 minutes against Aston Villa on December 1. The only match he didn't play was away at Liverpool in October because he was serving his one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards in the league.