Drogba back for Chelsea

Didier Drogba returns but Chelsea will otherwise flood their team with youngsters for tomorrow’s Carling Cup third-round tie against Fulham.

Drogba has recovered from the sickening head injury that has sidelined him for more than three weeks and is likely to lead the attack alongside 18-year-old Romelu Lukaku.

Josh McEachran, Oriol Romeu, Ryan Bertrand and possibly Ross Turnbull will all start tomorrow, with manager Andre Villas-Boas using England’s second cup competition to blood his younger players.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Bertrand, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Terry, Luiz, Alex, Cole, Mikel, Romeu, McEachran, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles, Mata, Malouda, Torres, Anelka, Sturridge, Kalou, Lukaku, Turnbull.