Mixed injury news for AVB

Ramires: Ready for Chelsea comeback

Chelsea welcome back Ramires for the visit of Birmingham in Saturday's FA Cup tie, but Ashley Cole, and African Cup of Nations returnees Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will miss the game.

Captain John Terry is also a doubt, with manager Andre Villas-Boas worried about risking the defender ahead of the Champions League tie in Napoli on Tuesday.

With Chelsea now 17 points of the pace in the league, their best chance of silverware this season is in one of the cups, and Villas-Boas knows it is important that he gets his top players back.

He told the club's official website: "'John Terry completed his first full training session today for a week.

"But with such a short distance between the two games we must be careful. If he plays against Birmingham then he may not be able to make the Napoli game so we haven't made a decision yet.

"Kalou will be back in training tomorrow (Friday), Drogba the following day, but on Saturday I will need to decide between Torres and Lukaku.

"Ashley Cole's injury is coming along and he has a chance of making the Napoli game, probably a 50/50 chance, but Ramires is back and ready to play."

Boost

The Chelsea boss also admitted that having Drogba back will make a big difference to the Blues' attacking line.

He added: "Drogba gives us another solution up front, we've used Torres in all the games since he went away, but he will add competition.

"I spoke to him after they [Ivory Coast] lost in the final and, of course it was a big disappointment, they had a good chance to win it but penalties is always a lottery.

"He is a strong character and he can have a big impact for us."