Kurt Zouma snapped at Chelsea’s training ground as defender steps up recovery from horrific knee injury

In a campaign of disappointments, Kurt Zouma’s devastating knee injury in February was a low point in Chelsea’s 2015/2016 season.

The French defender had begun to establish himself as first choice in the heart of the Blues’ defence but was cruelly sidelined for around six to nine months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament when he landed awkwardly in the club’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

The 21-year-old had hoped to represent his country at Euro 2016 but instead he has spent the last five months depserately trying to recover from one of the cruelest injuries in sport.

However, the light is at the end of the tunnel for Zouma who is now back in training with his Chelsea team-mates who returned to pre-season training earlier this week.

John Terry, who was handed a new one-year deal at the end of the last season, uploaded a photo onto his Instagram today that showed Zouma was back with his colleagues and he is expected to be fit by September.

Chelsea injury boost: Kurt Zouma reveals plans for Blues return

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."

Guus Hiddink: Injury update on Eden Hazard, John Terry and Kurt Zouma

Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard will feature in today's away game against Bournemouth, interim manager Guus Hiddink revealed.

The Belgium international will play for the first since the Champions League exit Paris Saint-Germain but defenders John Terry and Kurt Zouma are still on the sidelines.

"He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel."
- Guus Hiddink"He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel," Hiddink told reporters.

"Not for the whole game, but he's available to play.

"This week he trained physically without any complaints, which is a good signal. He was very alive.

"[John Terry?] I like people to be involved in the team, sometimes we take more than the 18 on the list, sometimes we take youth players for experience,' the Blues boss explained.

"Also, John is very committed and he's annoyed about the injury. He desperately wants to be with the team.

"He has his treatment here and he's done individual training. I'm hoping he'll step up next week and we'll see how it goes for the last couple of games.

"If we play on Monday week he has to be training with the group by Thursday [to have a chance of playing]

"[Kurt] Zouma is working very hard, I like his spirit and the fact he's trying to come back as soon as possible, but of course not this season. He's a very tough and encouraging guy."

Kurt Zouma is walking again!

Chelsea land is slightly abuzz with PSG's latest social media antics, but here's more social media short video of a far more happy and exciting nature.  Kurt Zouma is walking again!  And doing some sort of ... dance?  I have no idea.  Whatever it is, it looks like a great time in the recovery pool.

Oh wait, he's dabbing, isn't he?  Well, whatever works.  As long as it speeds along his recovery.  Kids these days.  Swag.

In any case, Zouma is obviously not expected to be back healthy and playing until sometime next season.  The typical recovery from ACL surgery is a minimum of six-to-nine months, but it could be up to two years even before a player recovers (most of) his previous abilities, movement, strength, agility.  Sure, there have been some high-profile success stories of players making amazing comebacks from such a devastating injury (the NFL's Adrian Peterson and Rob Gronkowski are the most obvious ones), but we should probably temper our expectations.

Hopefully Zouma does make a full recovery, of course.  Looks like he's off to a good start.

Chelsea vs. Everton 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online

The FA Cup has reached the sixth round, and the highest-profile match of the round sees Everton host Chelsea in what should be a very exciting match. Both teams are eager for a silver lining in their season, and the FA Cup would be an awfully shiny consolation prize for a tough campaign that hasn't exactly gone to plan.

Everton come into this match hopeful of a good result, having beaten Chelsea once at home in the league this season and battling them to a 3-3 draw in London. They're also catching Chelsea reeling off their Champions League knockout in what was a truly uninspiring performance against Paris Saint-Germain -- but that could be a double-edged sword.

That disappointment could prove to be the spark that Chelsea need to get "right" and start a late-season surge. We'll know pretty early in this match if that's the case -- if Chelsea come out swinging fast and hard, Everton will very likely finish this match with their heads hanging low in defeat. If not, they've got a real chance to send Chelsea back to London licking their wounds.

Key player -- Willian (Chelsea)

Everton have struggled all year against guys who run at their back line all day long, and that's exactly what Willian brings to the table. His ability to unsettle a back line and create holes for his teammates to exploit is nearly unparalleled in England, and when you add his immense skill on set-pieces to the equation, he'll be the key man in Chelsea's efforts to knock Everton down.

Key matchup -- Romelu Lukaku (Everton) vs. Gary Cahill (Chelsea)

Lukaku is always eager to try to get one over on his old teammates at Chelsea, and Everton fans have to be drooling at the prospect of him lining up against Cahill right now. The English international has looked stiff and a step off the pace of late, and even at his best he's struggled against Lukaku's size and athleticism. In the state he's in now, Lukaku could have an absolute field day against him.

Everton injuries and suspensions

Out: Tyias Browning, Tony Hibbert In doubt: Bryan Oviedo, Gareth Barry, Aaron Lennon, Tom Cleverly

Chelsea injuries and suspensions

Out: Kurt Zouma, Radamel Falcao In doubt: Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, John Terry

Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local

Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England

TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada)

Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada).

How did Guus Hiddink get on in his first game back at Stamford Bridge?

Guus Hiddink was back in the Chelsea dugout at the start of his second stint in charge at Stamford Bridge, with Watford the opposition. The veteran Dutchman has taken over until the end of the season following Jose Mourinho’s sacking last week.

Here’s a look at how he fared in his first game back at the helm.

The line-up

Hiddink made just one change to the starting line-up chosen by caretaker boss Steve Holland for last weekend’s win over Sunderland, with Gary Cahill preferred to Kurt Zouma alongside captain John Terry at centre-half.

Playmaker Eden Hazard, who missed out last Saturday with a hip injury, was fit enough for a place on the bench.

The tactics

(Paul Harding/PA)

Little discernible change from those of Mourinho. Diego Costa was up front on his own, Willian, Pedro and Oscar buzzed around behind him. Cesc Fabregas and Memanja Matic shielded the back four. The attacking play had a touch more urgency about it, though.

Motivation

(Matt Dunham/AP)

Chelsea raced out of the traps with Costa heading an early chance over. Oscar, not renowned as a midfield hardman, looked in the mood with a crunching tackle on Jose Jurado. But Chelsea still looked edgy when the game was not going their way.

In the dugout

(Matt Dunham/AP)

Hiddink looked a little embarrassed as he was re-introduced to the Stamford Bridge crowd to a warm reception. He enjoyed a friendly exchange with Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores, whom he once managed at Valencia. Unlike his predecessor at times, Hiddink remained calm in the dugout, rarely venturing out of his seat – not even when Nemanja Matic’s needless handball gifted Watford a way back into the game.

Substitutions

(Matt Dunham/AP)

Fabregas was hauled off at half-time after a poor first half, with Jon Obi Mikel brought on to shore up the midfield. Hazard came on with 15 minutes left and won the penalty which should have been decisive.

Impact

(Paul Harding/PA)

Managed to coax a performance out of Diego Costa, who finally looked something back to his menacing best and came up with two top-class goals. But Chelsea’s weaknesses in defence will not be solved overnight, while too many players are still not hitting anything like the heights of last season.

The verdict?

(Paul Harding/PA)

Things would have looked a lot brighter had Oscar not skied a late penalty to win the game. Instead a 2-2 draw does little to suggest Chelsea are ready to mount a challenge for the top four. Costa was the bright spot, though, and if other players follow suit Chelsea could yet salvage something from their season.

Hiddink drops Hazard, Mikel, Zouma to bench

Guus Hiddink makes just one change to the side which beat Sunderland 3-1 a week ago for his first game back in charge of the Blues, as Gary Cahill replaces Kurt Zouma in central defence.

Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic start as the two deep-lying midfielders, while Willian, Oscar and Pedro are tasked with supplying lone striker Diego Costa.

Having missed last week’s game through injury, Eden Hazard starts on the bench.

Nathan Ake, on loan at Watford from Stamford Bridge, is ineligible to play in today’s game.

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Diego Costa.

Substitutes: Begovic, Baba, Zouma, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Remy .

Watford are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Holebas; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Deeney (c), Jurado; Ighalo.

Substitutes: Arlauskis, Prodl, Guedioura, Berghuis, Anya, Behrami, Diamanti.

Today’s referee is Andre Marriner.