Ancelotti to recall star quartet

Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole could all return to the Chelsea side for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game against Blackburn.

The quartet were all rested for Sunday’s 7-0 FA Cup third-round thrashing of Ipswich and manager Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to recall them against Rovers.

Ancelotti has no new injury concerns, with Alex, John Obi Mikel (both knee), Yury Zhirkov (calf) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) all still sidelined.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Bruma, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Kalou, Essien, Lampard, Anelka, Sturridge, Drogba, Malouda, Turnbull, Van Aanholt, McEachran, Mellis.