Quartet struggling for Chelsea

Damien Duff, Claude Makelele, Asier del Horno and England defender John Terry are all struggling to be fit for Chelsea’s Barclays Premiership clash with Sunderland tomorrow.

However, unless Blues manager Jose Mourinho opts to rest them ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League game against Anderlecht, Makelele, Del Horno and Duff should play.

Terry is almost certain to be rested with Anderlecht in mind but William Gallas will switch to left-back if Del Horno is not fit, with Robert Huth partnering Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence. Shaun Wright-Phillips would replace Duff.

Arjen Robben is fit again after playing for Holland in midweek while Mourinho may well decide to relegate struggling England midfielder Frank Lampard to the bench. Chelsea say right-back Glen Johnson is suffering from a thigh strain and misses out.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Cech, Cudicini, Pidgeley, Ferreira, Gallas, Carvalho, Del Horno, Essien, Lampard, J Cole, Duff, Robben, Drogba, Makelele, Crespo, Wright-Phillips, C Cole, Gudjohnsen, Huth.