ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP FOURTH ROUND: STRIKER DIDIER Drogba is set to start for the first time in six weeks with Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari ringing the changes for the visit of Burnley in the League Cup.
Drogba has been sidelined with a knee injury suffered against CFR Cluj in the Champions League on October 1st and has had to watch Nicolas Anelka become the club's main goalscorer.
Anelka has scored 11 goals so far this season but may be rested or moved out to the flanks to accommodate Drogba in tonight's fourth round tie against the promotion-chasing Championship side.
"Hopefully Didier faces quite a fight to get back into the side because that's what being at a big club is all about," said Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins yesterday. "Didier trained very well yesterday and today so he's back in the squad. That's very pleasant from our situation.
"We do have Nicolas in fantastic form, so with Didier breathing down his neck to have a game it is lovely. I am sure there is a very healthy rivalry between the two guys as to who will score the most goals and I do think they can play together.
"Six or seven of our regulars won't play tomorrow night but they will be involved," Wilkins continued. "We've done exceptionally well over the last couple of years in the Carling Cup and the boys have been to Felipe and expressed the fact they don't want to be left out and want to play in every game.
"That is an extremely positive attitude to take and I am delighted because it shows there is this winning mentality in the club."
Chelsea will still be without England midfielder Joe Cole and the game will come too early for Michael Ballack.
Burnley manager Owen Coyle is aiming to dump Chelsea out of the cup tonight then after the game ask Scolari the secrets of his success. The former Republic of Ireland international has fashioned a promising young side who currently lie fifth in the English Championship.
For Coyle's players, the tie against the Premier League leaders represents a golden opportunity to pit themselves against some of the world's best.
For Coyle himself, crossing swords with former World Cup winner Scolari is another notable step in the former Bolton striker's managerial education.
Coyle said: "Hopefully I can learn and I will certainly be looking to pick his brains after the game when we sit down for a chat.
"For my own personal development it's tremendous and obviously I am looking to continue that, so I'll cream what I can off him to try to make me and this football club better."
Coyle looks set to be without several players, particularly in defence. Centre-back Clarke Carlisle is suspended after he was sent off in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Championship leaders Wolves.
Left-back Christian Kalvenes is almost certain to miss out again with a leg injury, while fellow defenders Steven Caldwell and Stephen Jordan both picked up knocks at Molineux.
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has ruled striker Kenwyne Jones out of night's clash with Blackburn as he awaits news on his knee injury.
The Trinidad and Tobago international was due to see a specialist today after undergoing a scan last night on the problem he aggravated in training last Friday.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon and striker Martyn Waghorn (both ankle) and George McCartney (foot) will also be missing, while Daryl Murphy is struggling with the dead leg.
Blackburn midfielder Vince Grella has been ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring injury. The Australian suffered the setback in the defeat by Chelsea on Sunday and will miss tonight's game.
Keith Andrews is ineligible while Roque Santa Cruz (hamstring), Andre Ooijer (knee) and Brett Emerton (hamstring) are all sidelined through injury.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will make a late decision on whether striker Fernando Torres starts against Tottenham tonight.
Torres is in need of match fitness after missing six games with a hamstring injury and is expected to feature at White Hart Lane while Benitez rests several of his other stars, including Steven Gerrard.
Second-choice goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, Sami Hyypia, Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant are expected to play.
Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended while captain Ledley King is set to be rested and Giovani dos Santos is out with an ankle injury.
(7.45 unless stated)
ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP Fourth Round: Chelsea v Burnley; Sunderland v Blackburn; Tottenham v Liverpool (On TV: Sky Sports2).
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Celtic v Kilmarnock; Dundee Utd v Hibernian; Hearts v Hamilton; Inverness CT v Falkirk; Motherwell v Rangers.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE: Third Division: East Stirling v Annan Athletic (7.30).
IRISH CUP: Third Round: Second Leg: Cliftonville v Portadown; Institute v Loughgall; Lisburn Distillery v Bangor.
LEAGUE OF IRELAND: First Division: Longford Town v Wexford Youths.
