Fabregas returns for Derby tie

Playmaker Cesc Fabregas is available following suspension as Chelsea travel to Derby for their Capital One Cup quarter-final clash on Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is unlikely to be risked after missing the Premier League leaders’ victory over Hull with a minor muscular injury, so Petr Cech is poised to continue in goal.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho may make a number of changes, rotating his players ahead of the heavy festive fixture list.

Provisional squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Fabregas, Zouma, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Schwarzer, Beeney, Loftus-Cheek, Christensen.

Celtic were handed a fearsome Europa League last-32 draw against Inter Milan while Liverpool will return to Istanbul, the scene of their memorable Champions League final win in 2005.

The Reds were paired with Besiktas in Monday’s draw in Nyon, conducted by UEFA’s Europa League final ambassador Jerzy Dudek – Liverpool’s goalkeeper in that famous penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan.

For Celtic, the draw marks a reunion with the opposition for the most famous match in the club’s history, the 1967 European Cup final which Jock Stein’s ’Lisbon Lions’ won 2-1.

Tottenham will also face Italian opposition in the form of Fiorentina, while Everton were drawn against Swiss side Young Boys in the first tie out of the UEFA pots.