KURT ZOUMA is hopeful he will return to action for Chelsea in time for the new season following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Zouma missed the second half of the Blues' season with a cruciate knee ligament injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in February.
His absence was a big blow for Chelsea and disrupted their defence, with Guus Hiddink never settling on a centre-back pairing.
However, the 21-year-old has good news for Chelsea fans and has revealed his rehabilitation is going well.
"I don't know when I'll be back out on the pitch but everything is going well," he told The Sun.
"I'm kicking the ball around a bit – I'm not in any pain and I feel good."
Zouma was initially a shoe-in for Didier Dechamps' France squad for Euro 2016 but the injury ended his hopes of playing, meaning his next action will come in a Chelsea shirt.
And when asked about the possibility of returning for the start of the 2016/17 season, he said: "I hope so...
"I think I've got enough time to be ready. But I don't have a precise date."
