According to a report in British broadsheet The Guardian, Michael Essien may not return to action for the Chelsea first team for a good few weeks yet.
The 26-year-old has been sorely missed in the Blues' midfield department since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in September 2008.
It was thought that the Ghana international might even return for the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Coventry City on Saturday after he played 90 minutes and scored in a Chelsea reserve match on Monday.
However, it seems that the west London outfit's medical staff do not want to rush the former Olympique Lyonnais star back into action too soon for risk of either aggravating his current injury or straining himself and suffering a further setback.
The 26-year-old has been sorely missed in the Blues' midfield department since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in September 2008.
It was thought that the Ghana international might even return for the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Coventry City on Saturday after he played 90 minutes and scored in a Chelsea reserve match on Monday.
However, it seems that the west London outfit's medical staff do not want to rush the former Olympique Lyonnais star back into action too soon for risk of either aggravating his current injury or straining himself and suffering a further setback.