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Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien could make a quick-than-expected return to action at the end of the month after being sidelined by a knee injury. The 27-year-old tore a knee ligament last month at the Africa Cup of Nations and underwent surgery. Essien is reported to be making progress in his rehabilitation and has joined his team mates for drills at their Cobham training ground. He has suffered back-to-back injuries after tearing hamstring in December last year during a Champions League match sidelined for him three months. The Ghana international returned to training on 6 January but returned to the treatment room after sustaining the injury at the Nations Cup in Angola.