Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is eyeing a March return.

Indeed, the Ghana international could be back for the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League tie with Juventus on March 10.

The midfielder has been out since he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury last September while playing for Ghana, but resumed outdoor training last week.

He is expected to be fit for first-team duty in six to eight weeks' time, meaning he could be available for the game in Turin.

Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has said: "I lost five players when I lost Essien."