Great news, Chelsea fans: young midfielder Marco van Ginkel has now fully recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered in September, and he's now training with the first team once again after cycling up through the youth squads:
I have absolutely no problems with my knee, but I'm obviously still not quite fit. This season I hope to make my comeback but I realize that in the championship race, every game is important and that my return more difficult. I continue to work hard to come back.
-Source: De Telegraaf (Google Translate).
Jose Mourinho has previously said that Van Ginkel will have no part to play in the remainder of Chelsea's season, but if he excels in training the manager might be forced to reconsider -- midfield depth, especially in the Champions League, is at best dodgy, and Van Ginkel has the ability to contribute, if not yet the fitness. This could also be good news for Holland as well: Kevin Strootman has just gone down with a knee injury of his own and will miss the 2014 World Cup. If van Ginkel can get some matches under his belt, he might find a place on the plane to Brazil.
And even if he doesn't play and doesn't end up in the Dutch World Cup squad, at least his knee is fine again. Hurray!