Chelsea’s first game after the October international break is against Southampton on Saturday.
The Blues welcome the Saints to Stamford Bridge hoping to avenge a 2-0 loss in the corresponding fixture last season and build on the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace at the beginning of the month.
And head coach Frank Lampard might be able to call upon the services of £33.4m summer signing Hakim Ziyech for the very first time in a competitive fixture.
The 27-year-old was actually the first of seven first-team arrivals this summer after Chelsea agreed a deal with Ajax – which could rise to a maximum of €44m (£36.7m) – shortly after the January transfer window closed.
However, because of a knee injury sustained in the pre-season draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in August, the playmaker is yet to feature for the west London outfit.
He’s missed the Premier League opener against the same opposition as well as the Liverpool loss, the 3-3 draw at West Brom, the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, and Carabao Cup ties against Barnsley and Tottenham Hotspur.
With that said, Ziyech has been back in training over the past month, and seems it’s only a matter of time before he gets a taste of Premier League action.
In a major boost for Lampard and the Blues, the attacking midfielder made his first appearance since August for Morocco in their friendly win over Senegal last Friday.
Furthermore, Ziyech appears to have teased that his Chelsea debut is imminent.
Taking to social media, he uploaded an image of himself in the full Chelsea kit to Instagram with the prayer hands emoji.
Afriupdate understands that Ziyech has already travelled back to London rather than staying on for Morocco’s second friendly, also in Rabat, against DR Congo on Tuesday night.
It is thought that his departure was agreed before the Senegal game, so there is no suggestion of a fresh injury blow or recurrence of the previous knee issue.
Lampard will likely issue an update on the playmaker and his chances of making his debut at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
Ziyech has impressed the Blues boss in training, as his passing has been described as “ridiculous”, according to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
“You know what I spoke to Frank the other day about Ziyech and he said: ‘His passing is ridiculous,” Ferdinand told the Five YouTube channel. “I’m looking to see them passes when he cuts with his left foot and has the likes of Mason Mount, Timo Werner Kai Havertz etc all making runs and I think Ziyech will be putting it on a plate for these boys.”
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