Michael Essien made his return after six months out with a knee injury in a Chelsea reserve-team match on Monday.
The Ghana midfielder lasted 75 minutes of the 3-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion in his first appearance of the season.
And he is now bidding to return to Chelsea’s first team for the second half of the season.
Essien, 29, has been sidelined since July, when he underwent surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee in preseason training.