Chelsea have defensive issue ahead of this evening’s Europa League Quarter Final first leg against Rubin Kazan at Stamford Bridge.
Ashley Cole picked up a hamstring injury twenty minutes into Monday afternoons FA Cup Quarter Final replay victory over Manchester United, with Gary Cahill yet to recover from a knee problem.
Forward Demba Ba will also miss out through ineligibility, having already represented Newcastle United earlier in the competition, leaving Fernando Torres as the Blues only striker in the provisional squad.
Elsehwere, reports in Italy claim that Marco Materazzi could become Jose Mourinho’s assistant manager, should he return to Stamford Bridge as manager.
The World Cup winning defender, who retired from playing after wiinning the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, maintains a good releationship with Mourinho from their two years together at the San Siro.
Meanwhile, Michael Essien has revealed that he fully expects to return to Chelsea, and has beacked the club to land silverware this season.
The Ghanaian international, who was used as left back in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Galatasary in last nights Champion’s League Quarter Final, was brought in on loan by Mourinho back in August, though he remains contracted at Stamford Bridge until 2015.