Mourinho hoping for good news from Cole

Jose Mourinho is hoping that Carlton Cole will have recovered from his groin problem in order to add more potential firepower to their attack for Sunday’s crucial Barclays Premiership clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Cole missed the trip to Aston Villa in midweek along with right-back Paulo Ferreira who has a thigh injury. Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is still struggling to recover from the ankle ligament damage he received against West Ham on January 2.

Didier Drogba and Geremi are both away on international duty in the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively. The two countries meet in the quarter-finals of the tournament tomorrow.

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