Terry could miss Christmas fixtures

Rafael Benitez today admitted he could not guarantee John Terry would be fit for Chelsea’s Christmas fixtures.

Terry’s recovery from knee surgery is proving more problematic than first thought and he will definitely miss Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Ramires, John Obi Mikel and Gary Cahill all return from suspension, Daniel Sturridge is available for selection after his hamstring injury, but Ryan Bertrand is doubtful after being forced off in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final at Leeds.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Bertrand, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Moses, Marin, Piazon, Torres, Sturridge, Turnbull.