Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insists rehabilitation is going 'very well' after knee surgery

Thibaut Courtois has provided an update on his latest injury status, two weeks after being ruled out for up to five months with a serious knee injury sustained during a routine Chelsea training session at Cobham following his return from Euro 2016 qualifying duty with Belgium. Having now undergone surgery to correct the issue, the towering 23-year-old insists his rehabilitation is progressing well as he seeks to return before the new year.

Since arriving back from a hugely prosperous three-year loan spell with Atletico Madrid during which time he won a La Liga title as well as the Copa del Rey, Europa League and advanced to the final of the Champions League, Courtois has established a reputation alongside Manchester United's David de Gea as arguably the best goalkeeper in English football.

He has not been entirely immune to the issues that have frequently plagued the defending champions since August, however, beginning the 2015/16 campaign with a red card during the controversial 2-2 draw with Swansea at Stamford Bridge for a late foul on striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

His subsequent one-match suspension meant that Asmir Begovic, an £8m ($12.1m) summer signing from top-flight rivals Stoke, was forced to fill in for the trip to Manchester City and the Bosnian international has since kept two clean sheets in four further appearances in all competitions with 21-year-old academy product Jamal Blackman on the substitutes bench.

And while Begovic has certainly proved a capable deputy, Chelsea supporters and Jose Mourinho will nevertheless be pleased to hear that Courtois' recovery process is moving forward without a hitch.

Taking to Instagram to post a picture of himself undergoing a latest bout of treatment, the former Genk starlet said: "Since 1 week started my rehabilitation. Everything is going very well on the moment! Thanks for you support! #CFC #workhard#comebackstronger."

Mourinho's side, who eased to their first domestic title since 2010 ahead of Manchester City last term and were defeated just three times in 38 matches, made their worst start to a season since 1988 this time around, losing the Community Shield at Wembley as well as three of their first five league games against City, Crystal Palace and Everton.

They have shown obvious signs of recovery of late, however, boosting fragile confidence with a run of three straight victories against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Arsenal and League One outfit Walsall. The Blues travel to face Steve McClaren's struggling Newcastle on 26 September, an opponent against whom they have lost their last three away matches on a ground in St James' Park that has not been kind to Mourinho over the years.