Terry back for Chelsea

Chelsea welcomed back captain John Terry for his first start since December 13 but the champions lost his central defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho through illness.

Mikel Jon Obi and Michael Ballack were out through injury so Salomon Kalou and Paulo Ferreira were recalled.

Middlesbrough made two changes with Andrew Davies replacing the injured Jonathan Woodgate and James Morrison selected instead of Lee Cattermole.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra, Ferreira, Terry, Bridge, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Shevchenko. Subs: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Geremi, Robben, Wright-Phillips.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies, Xavier, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison, Boateng, Arca, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu. Subs: Jones, Rochemback, Christie, Euell, Hines.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)