Michael Essien makes reserve comeback

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien stepped up his recovery from a knee injury by playing 75 minutes for the club's reserves this afternoon.

The Ghanaian international has yet to feature this season having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during pre-season training.

It is the second the time in his Blues career that the 29-year-old has suffered the injury.

He is expected to return to the Chelsea squad next month.