Long-term injury victim Michael Essien has been talking exclusively to Chelsea TV about his rehabilitation period and the side's progress in his absence.

The Ghanaian damaged a cruciate ligament on international duty back at the start of September, and has since been working hard on his recuperation in the gym at Cobham.

Despite estimations in the media that he could return to action by January, the midfielder has refused to set a date for his comeback, but explained that his work with rehabilitation physio Thierry Laurent is going well.

'I think with these injuries you can't really give it a time, it can be shorter or longer, the time is not that important,' said the 25-year-old. 'The most important is for me to get back stronger. If I come back early fine but if it takes a bit of time, fine.

'At the moment everything is going well, I am recovering very well and it won't be long before I can go outside and start running a bit. I am in good hands with Thierry and the other physios - they have been great and are doing a really good job.'

Immediately after he picked up the injury, Essien took some time out in the south of France. It was, he explained, an important break.

'I wanted to have some treatment and it was good for the mind as well, to go away for a little bit, because when you see your colleagues training every day and playing games it makes you miss the games.

'I can never forget about football but it's a bit strange to see my colleagues training and playing games. I don't like to stop, and it's hard at the moment but I have to be patient and look after the knee, come back stronger because I have more years ahead of me.'

In his absence we have shot to the top of the Premier League, and he admitted he has been impressed with what he has seen, particularly in his favoured area of the field, where John Mikel Obi has dominated the role.

'We have a big squad and everybody is capable of doing something for the team, so it's no surprise for me because we have the players, everybody is world class. Hopefully I will come back and join the party at the end.

'Mikel is playing fantastic at the moment, I think he needed more games for his confidence and at the moment he has that. He is doing a great job for the team.'

You can catch the full Essien interview again on Chelsea TV on Friday morning from 10.45, or alternatively log on to Chelsea Plus at any time, where you can see exclusive content and all the big match build-up and reaction.