Journalist Matt Law has now claimed that Chelsea are really close to welcoming back one of their key players to match action.

He told the ‘London is Blue’ podcast that he believes Ben Chilwell could be back in the matchday squad as early as this weekend after his long layoff from injury.

You have to go back to September to find the last time Chilwell was involved in any capacity for Chelsea. He limped off late in the EFL Cup win over Brighton.

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His injury record did spark fears that this would be a bit of an issue, however very few expected us to be more than three months down the line without seeing him play.

His absence has left his natural position arguably one of the weakest on the pitch.

Whilst Levi Colwill has certainly been improving in his role as a left-back, he frequently shows just how much more comfortable he would be if he played in the middle of the defence.

Chilwell could be back Saturday

He may not be needed to suffer for too much longer though. Law has claimed that Chilwell could be involved as early as tomorrow against Fulham in what will be a massive boost to the squad.

He said: “Ben Chilwell is due back very soon. He’s been back in full training. I think we’ll see him in the squad very soon, if not at the weekend.”

Mauricio Pochettino however must ensure that he does not fall into the trap that he did earlier this season by playing Chilwell as some sort of winger instead of as part of the defence.

Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling are sharing the majority of minutes in that position right now, and their attacking threat means that they simply cannot be dropped for a natural defender when he returns to the squad.