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Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel has revealed that he is nearing a return to fitness following his recovery from knee ligament damage.

The Dutchman suffered the injury in a League Cup tie against Swindon Town in September and hasn't featured since.

The £8m signing from Vitesse Arnhem was making just his fourth appearance in a Chelsea shirt when he pulled up at the County Ground, but after working tirelessly to get fit, Van Ginkel believes he is now on the brink of a comeback.

The Evening Standard quotes him as saying: "[The surgeon] rarely seen such a speedy recovery. Together with the fact that I was physically fit as a fiddle, this has ensured that I am now so well.

"I volunteer at nine o'clock at the club, get treated, warm myself up in the gym or the pool and then go to the physiotherapist on the field. Now I can already change direction, reverse, cut, turn and shoot. Actually, I can do anything.

"The World Cup would be a bonus, because I am only focused on my recovery. My main goal is to get fully match fit again. And if that works in the short term, you never know what can result."

Van Ginkel's return to fitness coincides with a number of midfield departures from Stamford Bridge.

Michael Essien, Juan Mata and Kevin de Bruyne have all left the Blues this month, although Nemanja Matic has arrived from Benfica.