John Terry could be fit for Chelsea’s derby showdown at Tottenham on Sunday.
Chelsea skipper Terry missed training on Friday after injuring his ankle in the midweek win at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho was bitterly unhappy with the state of the pitch in Israel but clearly believes Terry has a chance of being fit.
Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma are favourites to be in central defence but Terry’s experience could be crucial at White Hart Lane.
Mourinho said: “I don't want to say that it's impossible he plays, because maybe he plays and then you will say that I was hiding. I'm not hiding. Today he didn't train, but we have a little hope that it's possible.
“It's important, but to be fair, I have complete trust in Cahill and Zouma. That's why, in a fundamental match for us last Tuesday, I left Zouma out after good performances to play Gary and to show Gary that confidence.”
Brazilian midfielder Ramires is also a fitness doubt while Mourinho insisted he has no sympathy with Tottenham despite their gruelling trip to Azerbaijan in the Europa League which saw them land back in London at 4.30am on Friday morning.
Mourinho complained that Chelsea faced the same situation two seasons ago when they faced Liverpool sandwiched in between a Champions League semi final with Atletico Madrid.
‘We played Sunday ahead of the second leg of the Champions League, the biggest competition in the world,” said Mourinho. “So if that wasn't a problem for Chelsea, why is it a problem now for Tottenham?
“That Champions League semi-final was at the end of the season when legs are a bit heavier than in November. It wasn't a problem for us. It's not a problem for them.
“We played against Dynamo Kiev and, two days later, played Stoke. And Stoke didn't play in the Champions League or Europa League. So it's even a situation that creates an even bigger difference because we played this week.
“When you play Saturday and then Thursday, you have a long time to recover from the previous match. When you play Saturday and then you play Tuesday, you are already in 'overload'.
“Then, if you have a longer period to rest after the second match, you have more time to accumulate from the first two matches. I am not convinced by the story. We either have a solution for everyone or no one.
“In Italy, Germany and Portugal there is a solution for everyone. You play Tuesday, then you play Friday. If you play on Thursday, you play on Monday. There are rules for everyone. Here, it's the same for everyone.”
Mourinho - who is eyeing a new striker and midfield reinforcements - wants to strengthen his squad but admits it could be difficult to do business in January.
“I don't think we'll do business. I don't think,” he admitted. “It's still one month to go, but I don't think (we will be buying). I'm not waiting to go into the market. I don't think we will.”