Cole and Deco out for Chelsea

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti left Joe Cole and Deco on the bench for the Champions League Group D encounter against Apoel Nicosia.

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has left Joe Cole and Deco on the bench for the Champions League Group D encounter against Apoel Nicosia.

England left-back Ashley Cole has been deemed fit enough to have recovered from the knee injury he sustained against Wigan on Saturday.

Nicolas Anelka has been handed the lone striking role for the Blues while Apoel feature former Chelsea defender Nuno Morais in their line-up.

Nenad Mirosavljevic has been selected to lead Apoel’s attack.

Apoel Nicosia: Chiotis, Poursaitides, Kontis, Grncarov, Haxhi, Charalambidis, Morais, Michael, Alexandrou, Pinto, Mirosavljevic.

Subs: Kissas, Papathanasiou, Kosowski, Satsias, Elia, Jean Paulista, Breska.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Essien, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka, Malouda.

Subs: Hilario, Joe Cole, Zhirkov, Deco, Sturridge, Hutchinson, Bruma.

Referee: Bertrand Layec (France).