Cudicini a contender for Blues

Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini faces a late fitness test to determine whether he can return to the side for tomorrow’s FA Cup third round tie at Watford.

The Blues are nevertheless still without Juan Sebastian Veron, who last featured against Newcastle on November 9, and Damien Duff, who dislocated his shoulder against Fulham last month.

On Duff, Ranieri told the club’s website, www.chelseafc.com: “We decided not to operate. I hope that, in another couple of weeks, he will be ready.”

He added: “I hope that in, 20 days, if Juan Sebastian Veron continues to improve, he will return. He has a back problem but now he is without pain and he will start running.”

Cudicini missed last Sunday’s victory against Portsmouth with a groin strain, with Neil Sullivan stepping in for his first Barclaycard Premiership start of the season.

However, the Italian goalkeeper is said to have been “running well” in training since then and should come back into contention for a place at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who has been linked with a potential move for Parma’s Sebastien Frey in the January transfer window, will be keen to have Cudicini back in the side.

After all, the Italian has been a virtual ever-present so far this season, with Sullivan having been selected only for two Carling Cup ties as well as the Premiership game against Portsmouth.

Chelsea could, meanwhile, also have Hernan Crespo and Celestine Babayaro back in contention after missing out last weekend due to illness as both are now back in training.

The Chelsea boss must still consider which starting XI to send out against First Division Watford, especially as he has been warned to expect a “bog” of a pitch.

He may turn to more experienced Premiership campaigners, such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen, rather than some of his more recent imports.

Captain Marcel Desailly is nevertheless among those hoping for a recall, even though he insists he is happy to live with the rotation system.

Desailly has denied reports that he is seeking a move to Marseille after the apparent end of his status as an automatic selection.

He told his website, www.marcel-desailly.com: “What people must understand is that since the start of the season, the coach, who has a very high-quality squad, has decided on a policy of turnover of players, which affects everyone.

“What is important is not the performances of one player or another but the collective performances of the team and the results.

“The manager didn’t pick me to start against Portsmouth, but it was because of his understandable policy of rotation and because I had played two days earlier against Charlton.

“With John Terry, William Gallas and myself, he knows he has quality in his team so why would he deny himself the chance to rotate his squad?”