Kovacic has not played in any of our first three matches of the season. He was named on the bench on the opening day at Goodison Park, before being ruled out of our next two matches due to a knee injury.

The central midfielder’s return to training is a timely boost for head coach Thomas Tuchel, who has had to deal with another injury to a key central midfielder in N’Golo Kante.

We spoke to Mateo on his return to fitness, putting his injury setbacks behind him and the weeks ahead.

‘It is nice to be back on the pitch after I missed two weeks. It has been tough to come back, but it’s very nice and I cannot wait to be back with the boys on the pitch. I am ready for what is coming,’ Kovacic told Chelsea TV.

‘I hate it [being ruled out]. It was tough, but the injury gives you something to improve more on the other side, I improved in the gym a little bit. I did some extra work and I feel good now to start.

‘I am very nervous on the sidelines; I hate not being on the pitch as it is so difficult. I try and support the team in both good and tough moments, and I think it is important that everybody is involved, we act as a group and continue what we are doing in the last few years. That is how it should be,’ he added.

Chelsea face the Foxes next in the Premier League and the 28-year-old says he is raring to go after putting the work in on the grass this week.

‘That’s why the training today was so tough, maybe not so much for the other boys!’ Kova joked. ‘It is not easy to miss part of pre-season, but injuries happen in football and I need to come back stronger.’