In the darkest hours of prolonged spells on the sidelines, Wesley Fofana says he leaned on several pillars for support.

Day to day at Cobham, while his colleagues headed out onto the grass and he was stuck indoors continuing his recovery from injury, Fofana felt the backing of his team-mates and the medical staff. They combined to keep his spirits high in his hour of need.

In the quieter moments, perhaps when he was away from the hustle and bustle of our training ground, Fofana turned to his faith for help.

The defender, born to an Ivorian father and French mother, is a practising Muslim. He told the Chelsea FC Muslim Supporters Group earlier this year how his faith played a pivotal role in his path to becoming a professional footballer.

It has also, he tells us, been a source of comfort as he navigates the inevitable ups and downs elite sport brings.

‘My faith helps me with everything,’ says Fofana. ‘The last two years were very hard, a bad moment, but I have the faith and I trust in God and in me. So faith is important. It pushed me on deep things because it was very hard.

‘As well, I have amazing team-mates. I spent a long time out of the game and not on the pitch, and all the guys were good with me. That helped me a lot. Everyone in the club was top with me. They showed me respect and they showed me trust. Now I’m back and I’m good.’

Fofana may not be a Christian, but he reveals that his mother’s side of his family are. He smiles when he says that means he is sometimes able to benefit from festive traditions.

‘My mum’s side of the family celebrate Christmas and sometimes I am with them even if I don’t celebrate Christmas. Sometimes, some guys bring you food or some presents – and that’s good! I celebrate with everyone and it’s nice.

‘In the Muslim religion, we have Eid, which is a little bit similar to Christmas because it’s traditional and it happens every year, although at a different time of year. Everyone is together with their family. We eat, we celebrate, we pass a good moment.’

Many Chelsea supporters will be doing exactly that in the coming days and then, on Saturday, their focus will return to Stamford Bridge. We host Aston Villa in what promises to be an exciting contest between two teams challenging at the top end of the Premier League table.

As ever, the football calendar intensifies at this time of year. For Fofana, in the midst of his sixth season in England, it is a period to relish.

‘It’s different to everywhere,' he explains, 'as in the other countries you stop and have a break. For me, when I played on Boxing Day, I was a little bit shocked because it was new for me, but it’s cool. It’s nice, a good moment for everyone. It’s a nice tradition.

‘You see the atmosphere. People come to the stadium with their families, it’s a gift for the kids, and it’s nice to see all the family together. There is a very good atmosphere.

‘Between players, it’s a good moment too because for the guys who celebrate Christmas, it can be hard because they don’t spend the time with their families, but everyone stays together. The group is stronger because of it.’

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