Thibaut Courtois returns from knee injury, available vs. Bournemouth

Chelsea received a massive boost on the injury front as Thibaut Courtois will be available Saturday for the first time since the team's first-choice 'keeper injured his knee in September.

"Courtois is selected," Jose Mourinho told reporters Friday ahead of Chelsea's match against Bournemouth. "Thibaut was our keeper all last season and you know how fundamental he was. It's important to have him back."

The Belgian international suffered the injury during training and eventually required surgery.

His availability means Asmir Begovic could find himself on the bench behind the talented 23-year-old after featuring regularly between the pipes for Chelsea.

Courtois is likely to start the match, Dominic Fifield of The Guardian reports, as Mourinho doesn't see the sense in putting him on the bench if he's healthy to play.

"To lose your No. 1 for three months, something like 19 matches in all competitions without the best goalkeeper in the world, was hard for us," Mourinho added. "It's been a long, long time, too long, but now we feel better.

"We have him, we have Begovic, (Marco) Amelia and (Jamal) Blackman and now we are safe. We are again in a super position where we have the best and a very good one."

Courtois' return will be vital in Chelsea's efforts to turn its season around following an abysmal start. His possible inclusion coincides with one of the team's most successful runs of the season, as Chelsea is hopeful of extending its unbeaten run to four games after the contest at Stamford Bridge.