Gudjohnsen in the frame for Chelsea

Eidur Gudjohnsen should be fit to face Aston Villa in the Premiership tomorrow, provided he has shaken off the illness which ruled him out of Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth round draw at Everton.

Chelsea remain without Didier Drogba, who is on international duty in the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.

Midfielder Michael Essien is almost fully fit after sustaining ankle ligament damage against West Ham at the start of the year.

The injury cost him a place in Ghana’s African Nations Cup squad but coach Jose Mourinho may well opt to keep him back for Sunday’s home clash with Liverpool.

Provisional squad: Cech, Johnson, Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Carvalho, Huth, Lampard, del Horno, Makelele, Duff, Robben, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, C Cole, Diarra, Crespo, Gudjohnsen, Maniche, Cudicini.