Chelsea handed major boost with Wesley Fofana pictured in training

Chelsea have confirmed Wesley Fofana has returned to light training as the defender continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

The £70million defender underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in July.

Fofana's injury prompted fears the defender could be absent for the entire Premier League season.

The Frenchman appears to be making impressive progress in his rehabilitation, with Chelsea sharing a photo of the 22-year-old back in light training.

The posts on social media included the caption 'back on the grass'.

Fofana was seen greeting Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino and running in the photos shared by the club.

The defender also took to Instagram to share an update with fans, posting 'Back on track.'

Chelsea are yet to provide a timeline on Fofana's likely return to first team training or competitive action, but the latest update represents a positive step.

The French international has endured an injury disrupted spell at Chelsea since completing a £70million move from Leicester last summer.

Fofana missed 15 Premier League matches due to a knee injury, before establishing himself in the side in the latter stages of the campaign.

Prior to joining Chelsea, Fofana suffered a leg break in his time at Leicester which saw him the majority of the 2021-22 season.

Fofana will aim to compete for a starting spot at Chelsea with Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill and Thiago Silva when he returns to full fitness.

Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League, but enjoyed a victory over rivals Tottenham and a hard fought 4-4 draw with champions Man City before the international break.

The Blues return to action with an away match against Newcastle on Saturday.