Chelsea begun their pre-season campaign on Saturday at Crystal Palace with a 1-0 win over their host.
It was Michael Essien who netted the winner in the second half.
Essien has not been in Chelsea jersey since December last year due to what Chelsea team doctors describe as a complicated surgery problems.
With most of the world cup stars still to report for pre-season camping, Boss Carlo Ancelotti handed starting role to most of his younger players while he welcomed from injury John Mikel Obi and Michael Essien. Petr Cech took over the captaincy from John Terry.
Both Chelsea and Essien geared into a brighter start. Youngster Josh McEachran played Essien through with a cross before twenty minutes but the Ghanaian headed wide.
Essien came very close and even more closer on the 27th minute. His half volley rattled the crossbar, a goal that could have been rated better than the Champions League goal against Barcelona.
Essien took the armband after 31 minutes when Ross Turnbull came on for Petr Cech.
It was Essien who put the Blues into the lead on 58 minutes. He curled a low drive into the bottom corner of the net after wonderful from McEachran and Sturridge.
However, that was his last action in the game as manager Ancelotti replaced him with Conor Clifford on the hour mark.
Essien’s next pre-season test with Chelsea is against Ajax Amsterdam in six days time.
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech (c) (Turnbull 31 ((Hilario 60); Bruma (Chalobah 76), Alex (Cork 60), Van Aanholt, Bertrand; Mikel; Essien (Clifford 60), Matic (Kaby 76); McEachran (Lalkovic 60); Di Santo (Sinclair 60), Sturridge (Tore 76).
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