Cesc Fabregas Illness: Updates on Chelsea Star's Status and Return

Chelsea won't be without Cesc Fabregas for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 match against Paris Saint-Germain, despite his illness. 

Chelsea's official Twitter feed reported the news that Fabregas would be playing. 

Kevin Palmer of ESPNFC provided more information on Fabregas' status earlier in the day, courtesy of manager Jose Mourinho: 

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The Spaniard trained on Monday wrapped up in a variety of wooly hats and scarfs as he battled what reports suggest is a heavy cold, with Mourinho admitting his team would miss his influence if he failed to prove his fitness ahead of the first leg in Paris. 

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The former Arsenal man has made a phenomenal return to the Premier League since moving from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

He has been one of the league's star performers this term—assisting 18 goals already this season in domestic and European play, per WhoScored.com—and has formed a potent central midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic per Opta (h/t 101 Great Goals):

Mourinho has previously noted the unique abilities Fabregas has to offer, per Chelsea TV (h/t the Premier League): 

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There are not many [players who fill the same role as Fabregas] here because the Premier League needs other qualities too. If you are just that type of intelligent, technical player, but you don't have the quality to compete and win first and second balls, then to be intense is very difficult. There are not many players like this and that is why, when we felt the chance to have Cesc Fabregas, we thought the player could give us important things but at the same time give us what the Premier League needs.

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Fabregas would have been a huge miss for the Blues, but they have enough quality in the squad to succeed without him.

Given that the midfielder won't miss any time from his illness, it's clear that Mourinho and the Stamford Bridge faithful have dodged quite a bullet.