Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has issued a full update on his squad, in advance of Saturday's 20:00 BST kick-off with Manchester United.
The hosts are hoping Trevoh Chalobah can return in defence, while fellow centre-back Levi Colwill is on the brink of ending a long lay-off.
Although skipper Reece James remains sidelined, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez is in a position to be recalled after serving a two-game suspension imposed by his club, for comments made during the recent international break.
“Chalobah trained today,”
explained Rosenior, at his press conference to preview a key game in the chase for UEFA Champions League spots.
“Not quite fully, it was modified training. We will make a decision on him but he's very, very close. Reece is a little bit further away.
”Levi will play some minutes for the Under-21s tomorrow [Friday]. He's an outstanding player and a leader in the dressing room.
“When you have a long-term injury, to the extent of Levi's injury, you need a long rehab period. I want to make sure he is 100 per cent right in terms of his match fitness, before we consider him for our first team.
”I don't ever tell you the starting XI. Enzo has been training and he's been training very well. He's been back with the group this week and has been fantastic. It's business as usual, in terms of selection for the game.“
Former Red Alejandro Garnacho is an option to face his former club for the first time since leaving United in the summer. The winger was an unused substitute when we won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Old Trafford.
United, meanwhile are set to be missing Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez to suspension.
We await Michael Carrick's press conference, for more on that situation, plus, hopefully, an update on Kobbie Mainoo, who sat out the surprise home defeat to Leeds United on Monday due to injury.
Look out for full coverage, across our official channels, of the head coach's media briefing from 13:30 BST on Friday.