Zouma has been out with a cruciate knee ligament injury which he sustained when he jumped and landed on his right leg with his fully body weight passing through his knee during the Chelsea 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United in February 2016.

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He missed the rest of the 2015.16 season after the injury and also the Euro 2016 which his country France lost in the final.

The 21-year-old, however, made a 45-minute appearance in Chelsea’s U-23 clash against Derby County.

It wasn’t a smooth return for the defender who gave away a penalty for a foul on Charles Vernam.

The defender was later withdrawn as Chelsea plan to ease him slowly back into action.