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Juan Cuadrado has returned to Chelsea training in Austria, while Kurt Zouma has stepped up his recovery from injury.

Manager Antonio Conte confirmed his desire to keep Cuadrado after Saturday's defeat to Rapid Vienna , while Cesc Fabregas, Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill have also joined up with the group.

Conte has welcomed the returns as the club prepares for Wednesday's pre-season friendly against RZ Pellets, but it is unlikely that any of the players will play the full 90 minutes.

"I saw a lot of positive things and then today arrived Fabregas, Pedro, Cuadrado, Cahill and Azpilicueta," Conte said on Tuesday. "It’s important because the group, I need to help the group, the complete group to transfer my ideas to the players.

"You know I like Cuadrado. I have worked with him when I was a coach at Juventus and he arrived today with the other players and he will train this afternoon. It is clear that people who are here, are Chelsea players and we want them to adopt our idea of football."

Zouma has been absent since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United in February, but could be fit for the start of the season after training alone for several months.

"I am very happy to see Zouma with the group," Conte added. "Today he started the aerobic work for the first time with the group. When we have a situation that is very difficult physically for him, we have to wait for him.

"We must respect the right time for him. I want the player to heal very, very good to stay fit for the rest of the season. Also he started to play with the ball and also when we are without the ball."

"He finished very, very tired. But I am very happy for him. I think he is very happy to start and feel like a player of football. It is important that we don’t push him. I had the same injury, so I know from personal experience that when the player is training [too hard, too early] it will go."

Michy Batshuayi, a summer signing from Marseille, joined the group on Monday and will be in contention for his first ever Chelsea appearance in the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt.

The Belgian striker cut short his holiday to prepare for the new season after taking only 17 days off.

"(It has been) two days now that he is working with us. He is in good physical condition," said Conte. "He’s beginning to start the physical and tactical aspect with us. He’s a good player, great technique, he uses two feet in the same way and I am very happy for him, for the other players."

Chelsea's other recent signing N'Golo Kante is on holiday and will join up with his new teammates in America. His first appearance could come against Liverpool in Los Angeles on 27 July.

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