Chelsea still troubled by injuries

Chelsea will again be without striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Frank Lampard for their opening Champions League Group B game…

Chelsea will again be without striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Frank Lampard for their opening Champions League Group B game against Rosenborg at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.

Drogba misses out with a knee problem while Lampard is still troubled by the thigh injury that sidelined him for England's Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia this month.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference that Peru striker Claudio Pizarro is also doubtful with a calf strain. Wayne Bridge has an ankle injury while centre-half Ricardo Carvalho (thigh) is also sidelined.

Mourinho said: "If you are talking about Drogba, Lampard, (Michael) Ballack and Carvalho you are talking about 40 per cent of the team, the spine of the team.

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"Wayne Bridge is also out leaving Ashley Cole as the only left-back to play every minute of every match."

Germany skipper Ballack, not named in Chelsea's 25-man Champions League squad, would not have played even if he was eligible as he still has not recovered from his ankle injury.