Cole returns for Chelsea

England midfielder Joe Cole returns to the Chelsea starting line-up for the first time since November for today's FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford.

Cole, who needed surgery on a broken foot, gets his reward after helping the team overcome Valencia in the Champions League in midweek.

He replaces Lassana Diarra, while Claude Makelele comes in for Mikel John Obi, with Chelsea aiming to maintain their bid for the quadruple.

While Blackburn go into the match on the back of three defeats, they were quietly confident after disposing of Arsenal and Everton previously in the competition.

Manager Mark Hughes also makes two changes, with David Dunn and Jason Roberts replacing Tugay and Matt Derbyshire.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Mokoena, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy.

Subs: Enckelman, Kerimoglu, Henchoz, Derbyshire, Peter.

Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard, Shevchenko, Drogba, Joe Cole.

Subs: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Mikel, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).