Trevoh Chalobah vividly recalls a significant moment during mid-October, an international break, when he resumed full training after a two-and-a-half-month hiatus due to a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a deceptive glimpse of normalcy.

‘I felt really good,’ Chalobah reminisces. ‘The rehabilitation with the staff here at Cobham was excellent. I had been training outdoors for a while, completed all my conditioning, and received meticulous care. Then, you know you have to step it up. The first drill of that session, though, my hamstring gave way again. Man, that was the toughest moment for me. A real tough one. But you have to understand it, accept it, and then get back to work.’

Chalobah’s journey to recovery extended for another four months—a mental and physical challenge he embraced. ‘There is nothing I regret about it,’ he asserts. ‘At the beginning, it’s tough not being able to do what you love. You feel that stress. This was my first significant injury, though, so I knew there was something I could take from the experience.

‘I tried to find enjoyment in it, if you know what I mean. Staying focused, not getting distracted, doing the rehab. You’ve got to keep the faith too – and stay calm.

‘I didn’t want to get myself too stressed because the more positive you are, the more your body is going to feel that. So, I would say I worked on myself mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’m now feeling even better.’

The recovery efforts undertaken by players at Cobham often go unnoticed, with minimal days off and extensive hours in treatment and the gym. Yet, for both players and staff, the ultimate objective is the same. Chalobah wasn’t alone on his path back to full fitness, connecting with new arrivals undergoing similar experiences, like Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku, and finding support from a familiar face in Ben Chilwell.

In January, Chalobah re-entered the first-team group but knew he was still weeks away from returning to the pitch. ‘I just had to give it time,’ he reflects. ‘My mindset was ‘you’re getting better, you’ll be good, just stay calm.’ So, I came in every day with a smile on my face and trusted the guys here to help my body heal.

‘What I did find hard, though, was watching the games from home. Of course, I was supporting the boys, but man, I was on the sofa and just itching to be out there with them and helping the team.’

Chalobah didn’t make his return to the Chelsea matchday squad until February 12. He initially watched from the sidelines as Chelsea secured a Premier League victory against Crystal Palace with late goals from Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez. Five days later, he entered the pitch at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, a sign of trust from Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

‘I think I had a good start in pre-season, so he knew me and what I was about,’ says Chalobah. ‘I had regained my confidence through training, but every player will say there is nothing like a game to really test you and your body.’

The 24-year-old emerged unscathed, leading to seven minutes of play in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. Shortly after, he secured his first start of the season in the FA Cup against Leeds United. Chalobah began the game in central defense, later shifting to right-back for the last 15 minutes, contributing to a 3-2 victory.

‘My legs were really feeling it in those last minutes,’ Chalobah recalls with a smile. ‘Honestly, I was praying there was extra time! Obviously, Conor then gets the goal, and the game is done. I had to thank him for that.’

Chalobah retained his starting position for the subsequent match against Brentford, this time employed in the middle of a back three—a role he’s comfortable with, showcasing his versatility.

‘It’s a role I’m comfortable in, and I’ll play wherever I’m needed,’ he explains. ‘I’ve played in the middle of a three, on the right under Thomas Tuchel, I played on the left in France too. It’s just about what is best for the team.

‘I felt good in that Brentford game. The legs felt stronger. Once you get back into the flow of matches, it becomes easier.’

Chalobah’s return provides a timely boost for Chelsea, who are still in contention for the FA Cup and aiming for a European spot in the Premier League. There is much left to accomplish.

‘We know what we’ve got to do,’ says Chalobah, ‘and the most important thing for me is helping the team however I can. I’m feeling good and am getting back into my rhythm. It’s just about picking up where I left off in July before my injury.’