Benoit Badiashile is closing in on his return from injury, football.london understands.

The 23-year-old defender has not played for Chelsea since December 8, when the Blues came from behind to beat Tottenham in north London. Badiashile has been absent with a hamstring injury for almost two months but has stepped up his recovery recently, with the defender doing some individual work on the grass at the club's training base in Cobham.

Sources have told football.london that Badiashile's recovery is on track and as expected with Enzo Maresca being given a huge boost. Chelsea recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace last month to bolster the Italian's options at the back and the 25-year-old defender has featured in all three Premier League games since returning to Stamford Bridge.

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Aaron Anselmino was also recalled from Boca Juniors, although there is no immediate rush from the club's side to bring the 19-year-old Argentine defender into first-team action as he looks to acclimatise to a new country and a different culture. Other than that, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo are the two options in the centre of defence with Wesley Fofana still unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Fofana, like Badiashile, has been doing some individual work at Cobham in recent weeks with a serious hamstring problem. football.london was told last month that there will be no rushing the Frenchman back to action with the club eager not to aggravate any muscular problem given the 24-year-old's track record with injuries.

Both Fofana and Badiashile are nearing their respective returns to the pitch in what is set to be a huge period for the Blues, who are chasing a top four finish this season. Monday evening's comeback win against West Ham United saw Maresca's men climb back into the Champions League places with Manchester City, Bournemouth and Newcastle United all losing at the weekend.

Chelsea are still fighting on two other fronts, too, with the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League available for the Blues to fight for between now and the end of the season. The west Londoners travel down to the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening in the fourth round of the FA Cup as they face a difficult tie against Premier League rivals Brighton, before facing them in the top-flight just six days later.