ANTONIO RUDIGER is handing Chelsea a huge boost with a long-awaited return to fitness.
The German centre-half, 26, has finally shaken off the freak groin problem he suffered at Wolves last month after slipping on a metal plate placed next to the touchline.
That was his first game back following knee surgery to correct an injury which ended his campaign early in April — and he lasted only 45 minutes.
Chelsea have missed Rudiger’s athleticism, aggression and speed in defence during his absence.
He is the Blues’ first- choice central defender and it is no coincidence they have kept only one clean sheet in 12 games so far this season.
Rudiger’s comeback has also come in the nick of time as his defensive partner Andreas Christensen picked up a groin injury during Denmark’s 1-0 win at home to Switzerland on Saturday.
It is unlikely Rudiger will be ready to start against Newcastle when the Premier League resumes this weekend.
But the player wants to get back into action as soon as possible.
Boss Frank Lampard admits his defence still needs a lot of work.
Even though the team has been scoring plenty of goals, Lampard was critical of his back four after a string of errors allowed Southampton to force their way back into their last league game.
Chelsea eventually won 4-1 but Lampard said: “We let someone stroll into our box and score.
“We are nowhere near the finished article.”
Lamps will be further boosted by key midfielder N’Golo Kante returning to training with France after being forced to pull out of last week’s win over Iceland with a knock.
But they will need to check on the fitness of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic after he was injured in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Wales.
The midfielder crumpled under a Ben Davies challenge in the build-up to Gareth Bale’s equaliser and he did not reappear for the second half.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic admitted Kovacic would need to be assessed.
He said: “Mateo felt his knee in that challenge so we’ll see in the next few days what the diagnosis is.”
