Chelsea without African quartet

Chelsea will go into the Premier League game against Hull tomorrow without four key players who are at the African Nations Cup.

Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi have already left for Angola while Ghana international Michael Essien is set to leave in the next three days after further treatment on his hamstring injury.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to pair Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge in attack against the Tigers. Anelka has recovered from his hamstring strain and will start.

Jose Bosingwa is back in training after his knee injury but some way off full fitness, while midfielder Deco remains out with a calf problem.

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