Deco given compassionate leave

Chelsea will be without midfielder Deco for tomorrow’s Premier League home clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Deco misses out because his father is ill and defender Alex (thigh) and Salomon Kalou (thigh) are also sidelined.

However, both Alex and Kalou are expected to be fit for the home game with Portsmouth next week. Jose Bosingwa is out with a long-term knee injury.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will recall Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka after resting them for the midweek Champions League game against APOEL.

Provisional squad: Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Belletti, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Obi, Malouda, J Cole, Zhirkov, Drogba, Anelka, Kakuta, Bruma, Borini.