Cech said: “When you want to be back quickly you have to give 130% and I am happy with the way I have progressed.

“You always want to be on the pitch and playing. I have been training really hard to come back. I couldn’t make it against West Ham last weekend but hope to play on Saturday.”

While Cech is set to return, Chelsea are still concerned over the knee problem suffered by Ivorian striker Drogba.

The west London club will continue to monitor Drogba’s injury amid speculation that he is set to undergo surgery.

It is no secret that Drogba has been struggling with a knee injury since he returned from international duty with the Ivory Coast but Chelsea made no attempt to clarify his fitness situation despite reports suggesting he would require an operation.

According to reports the forward underwent a scan earlier this week which showed his knee was suffering from degeneration in his left meniscus.

Chelsea’s medical staff have been monitoring Drogba’s problem for some weeks now and they will continue to do so in the build-up to the busy festive schedule.

Chelsea could ask the Ivory Coast international to play on with the aid of painkilling injections until January, when he will not be available in any case due to international commitments at the African Cup of Nations.

Surgery would require a recuperation period of between three and five weeks, not taking into account the time it would take to recover full match fitness.

However, Drogba played through the pain barrier against both Rosenborg in the Champions League and in the Barclays Premier League win over West Ham and he is likely to figure against Sunderland at the weekend unless his problem worsens significantly.