Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that German winger Andre Schurrle has been struggling with an illness in recent weeks.

Schurrle commanded a regular spot in the Chelsea side last season, but has struggled to find that form for the Blues this term.

"He was very ill," the Chelsea boss is quoted as saying by London 24. "He was back here and he took a good two weeks, because it was a bad one.

"I think that affected him a lot from a physical point of view. When he started training again he had a fragile body and, as a consequence, a fragile brain.

"But now he's coming step by step. He was on the bench against West Brom, and played 15 minutes in the last match."

Schurrle has started only one Premier League game this season.