Cheryl should be back in time to mentor her X Factor group

…but she might be forced to stay in the UK while the other judges jet-off to exotic locations

Having been battling with malaria now for over two weeks, Cheryl Cole looks set to rejoin the X Factor at the end of August - in time to welcome her assigned category of hopefuls.

Every year, the four judges whisk their finalists away to their respective ‘houses,’ in order to whittle them down into the lucky few contestants who’ll face the live shows.

SEE ALL THE PICS SO FAR FROM THE X FACTOR 2010!

And while this usually involves jetting-off to some exotic location – last year included trips to Dubai, Morroco, LA and Italy – it looks as though this year, Cheryl’s going to have to stay put in good old Blighty.

‘At this stage, we are looking at different ways to make things as easy as possible for Cheryl,’ a show source told the Daily Mail.

Although nothing yet has been confirmed, it looks unlikely that the star will be going abroad so soon after contracting malaria in Tanzania last month.

‘No decision has been made yet about the judges homes,’ says a source close to Cheryl. ‘It’s still some way off so we will see closer to the time.’

Cheryl missed the last rounds of the X Factor auditions, and is also sitting out the boot camp stages next week, while she recovers at home.

‘I think she is keen to get back to work,’ says Simon Cowell. ‘I just want to make sure she doesn’t rush back too early.’

‘We’re going to have a conversation about that.’

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Ashley Cole – having just returned from a 10-day holiday in LA - has cancelled a planned trip Sin City, Las Vegas, because he thought it would be ‘over the top’ considering his ex-wife’s current condition.

Dannii Minogue, who’s just given birth to baby boy Ethan, is also expected to rejoin the show at the same time as Cheryl, following her maternity leave.

SEE ALL THE STAR STYLE SO FAR FROM THE X FACTOR 2010!

SEE FROM CONTESTANT TO JUDGE, SEE CHERYL'S DRAMATIC STYLE TRANSFORMATION HERE