Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in contention to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Courtois, 23, has been sidelined since September after sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with Belgium.
Asmir Begovic has deputised for the shot-stopper, although Mourinho declined to say if Courtois would start in place of the former Stoke player this weekend.
"He was our goalkeeper all last season," Mourinho said. "We know how fundamental he was for us. It's very important that we have him back.
"To lose your No. 1 for three months -- 19 matches without the best goalkeeper in the world -- was hard for us.
"Now we are again in a super situation by having the best [goalkeeper] and a very good one."
Asked if Courtois would start against the Cherries, Mourinho said: "Clearly sooner or later he will be my No. 1. If he doesn't play against Bournemouth, he will play against Porto [next Wednesday]."
Mourinho had hoped to have captain John Terry, Ramires and Radamel Falcao available, but the trio remain out.
Nemanja Matic is fit to play with a protective mask after sustaining two broken bones in his face against Tottenham.
"He has a double fracture. It was not a nice touch in his face. But he is ready," Mourinho said.
Gary Cahill's four-year contract extension was announced this week.
Asked what it meant for fellow defenders Terry, who has an ankle injury, and Branislav Ivanovic, whose deals expire at the end of the season, Mourinho said: "It means that they can sign. [But] it's too early for them."
Chelsea are likely to wait until later in the season to enter negotiations with the pair, who are both over 30 and therefore eligible only for one-year deals under club policy.