There was good news from the training field on Wednesday as Michael Essien took part in his first group session since sustaining a serious knee injury in September.

The Ghanaian ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty in the early stages of this season, and has since been working hard on the lonely road to recovery, mainly with rehabilitation physio Thierry Laurent.

Having recently undertaken some physical ball work outside at Cobham, today was the first opportunity for Essien, 26, to join in with his team-mates, albeit in a non-contact session lacking many of the first team squad due to their own international commitments.

It is standard at this stage of rehab for a player to begin exercising with other players, and Essien has not yet returned to full training, the aim for which has always been at the end of February, with a view to getting him playing again by the middle to end of March.

During the session, again led by Paul Clement and Ray Wilkins, there were a series of small-sided games, played with a high intensity much like Tuesday's session. Returning to the group were the reserve team players who figured heavily in Monday's match against the Glenn Hoddle Academy.

You can see more of the action from Cobham exclusively on Chelsea TV, so be sure to catch Blues News from 6.30pm.