Worthington Cup: Defensive headache for Ranieri

Chelsea captain Graeme Le Saux serves a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards and is out of tomorrow night’s Worthington Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

French centre-back William Gallas is also a doubt after collecting a leg injury in Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Norwich.

That makes it even more likely John Terry will return to a starting role - just a few hours after appearing in court alongside team-mate Jody Morris following an alleged incident at a West London nightclub last week.

Chelsea were expected to drop Terry at Norwich after he spent the previous day in police cells, but instead he appeared as a second-half substitute when it was decided to take off Marcel Desailly, who was playing his first game in two months following Achilles trouble.

Desailly has declared himself fit to start tomorrow, but Gallas’ problem adds to the dilemma for manager Claudio Ranieri, although he is boosted by the return of midfielder Emmanuel Petit (ankle) and winger Boudewijn Zenden (calf) - possibly for substitute duties.

Frank Lampard is set to return to the starting line-up after only a substitute’s role on Saturday, as is 13-goal striker Eidur Gudjohnson who was rested for the Norwich game. The Icelander could take over again from Mikael Forssell as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s front-line partner.

Gianfranco Zola may start again in a supporting role to the front two but Mario Stanic and Albert Ferrer are also available.