Kakuta comes in for ill Drogba

Chelsea skipper John Terry returned after missing England’s midweek clash with Montenegro for the Barclays Premier League clash at Aston Villa.

The central defender had recovered sufficiently from the back injury which forced him out of England’s goalless draw at Wembley.

With Didier Drogba ruled out through illness, Carlo Ancelotti handed a first league start to Gael Kakuta.

Villa striker Emile Heskey failed to recover from a calf injury and was replaced by John Carew.

Winger Marc Albrighton and defender Luke Young were absent through illness and injury respectively and were replaced by Stephen Ireland and Habib Beye.

ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ireland, Downing, Ashley Young, Carew.

Subs: Guzan, Cuellar, Bannan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Clark, Salifou.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Kakuta, Anelka.

Subs: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Zhirkov, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Borini, McEachran.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)