Good news on Drinkwater, less so on Bakayoko and David Luiz as Chelsea return to the training ground

For the first time in well over a month, Danny Drinkwater was spotted training with the rest of the first-team on Thursday as Chelsea gear up for the next big game on the schedule. Saturday’s early kick-off against Watford comes far too quickly after Wednesday’s dramatic exertions, but there’s nothing we can do about that other than try to recover the team’s physical (and mental) condition as much as possible.

Drinkwater had returned to light training at the start of this week, but some reports still claimed his full recovery was weeks away. Regardless, his improving fitness is definitely a welcome development even if he may not be involved just yet tomorrow—ideally, he will be good to start by midweek when Chelsea face Everton in the League Cup.

Gary Cahill was also involved in training after getting the cut to his chin stitched up after Wednesday’s game.

Unfortunately, it sounds like both David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko were kept out of the full session as they attempt to rehab their minor injuries before Saturday’s game. We will need at least one of Bakayoko, Drinkwater, or David Luiz to be fit, otherwise Cesc Fabregas is going to have to play midfield all by his distinctly non-Kante-esque self...