Four changes for Chelsea

Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa all missed out as Chelsea made four changes for today’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Birmingham.

Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa have all missed out as Chelsea make four changes for today’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Birmingham.

Ramires, John Obi Mikel and Gary Cahill are recalled after injury and illness, Ryan Bertrand has been handed a rare start at left-back for the injured Ashley Cole, while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are surprise substitutes following their return from the African Nations Cup.

Npower Championship promotion chasers Birmingham have made five changes, drafting in Colin Doyle, Pablo Ibanez, Morgaro Gomis, Nathan Redmond and Adam Rooney.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Meireles, Sturridge, Torres, Mata.

Subs: Hilario, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, Malouda, Bosingwa, Kalou.

Birmingham: Doyle, Carr, Davies, Ibanez, Murphy, Redmond, Fahey, Mutch, Elliott, Gomis, Rooney.

Subs: Butland, Caldwell, Burke, Spector, Asante, Reilly, Jervis.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.