It is perhaps best to begin rehabilitation with baby steps. Wednesday’s Premiership match against Blackburn will provide a clearer indication of whether Chelsea really have stabilised, but, after a 4-0 Carling Cup victory over Wycombe last week, their confidence will have been bolstered further by Sunday’s 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round demolition of Nottingham Forest.

Andriy Shevchenko scored again – with the help of a large deflection off John Curtis – but any thought the Ukrainian is back near his best is premature. Some hailed the first of his two goals against Wycombe last week, intercepting a misplaced defensive pass and finishing with the icy efficiency of old, as a return to form, but on the evidence yesterday it was rather a reminder of what used to be.

Laid through by an astute Frank Lampard pass just after the hour on Sunday, his first touch was poor, taking him wide. He then looked up, saw nobody in the middle, and banged the ball across there anyway.

These were the chances he used to dispatch with barely a thought; whether it is fitness, form or confidence, something is still not right with Shevchenko.

Still, by then it hardly mattered. This was as near to a bye as it is possible to get in the FA Cup. Forest improved in the second half and regained a little dignity, but in the first half they were pitiful. What will frustrate them is that all three Chelsea goals were avoidable. First, after 12 minutes, a long throw was allowed to bounce, and when an unmarked Shevchenko pounced, the ball cannoned in off Curtis.

Six minutes later an absence of pressing led to a desperate lunge from Nicky Southall on Wayne Bridge, Didier Drogba bending the resulting free-kick beyond the sluggish dive of Paul Smith in the Forest goal.

Then, in first-half injury time, a Lampard corner hit Julian Bennett, was parried by Smith and Mikel John Obi tapped in.

For Chelsea there are greater battles ahead. Jose Mourinho, having deadpanned that the absence of the owner Roman Abramovich did not concern him, insisted he “believes” he will see out his contract until 2010, but the grin with which the Chelsea manager delivered the words suggested otherwise.

John Terry, meanwhile, has only a 50 per cent chance of returning from his back injury against Blackburn but, according to Mourinho, is 90 per cent certain to face Charlton on Saturday. When he is back, the corner perhaps will truly have been turned.