Selection woes for Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo was today facing a major selection headache for Chelsea’s Capital One Cup clash with Manchester United.

Blues boss Di Matteo already had the impossible task of getting his players to focus solely on football amid the fallout from Sunday’s explosive Barclays Premier League defeat to United.

And he had to do it without the suspended John Terry, Fernando Torres and Branislav Ivanovic, while Ashley Cole (ankle) joined Frank Lampard on the treatment table, meaning possible elevation to the match day squad for youngsters George Saville and Nathan Ake.

Provisional squad: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ferreira, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Mikel, Romeu, Ramires, Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Moses, Piazon, Marin, Sturridge, Turnbull, Saville, Ake.