Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has been boosted by the return to training of Hernan Crespo and he should be fit to lead the attack against Middlesbrough tomorrow.
Crespo was forced out of the action against Portsmouth last weekend with a rib complaint but the Argentinian forward has since recovered.
Mourinho is still sweating on the fitness of Ivory Coast hitman Didier Drogba who has complained of a knee problem since returning from international duty.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben is a doubt with a hamstring strain while Claude Makelele is sidelined with knee ligament damage.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will make late checks on skipper Gareth Southgate and defensive colleague Ugo Ehiogu and Stuart Parnaby.
All three came out of Wednesday night's Carling Cup fourth round victory over Crystal Palace with minor knocks, and will have fitness tests before McClaren names his side.
Slovakian Szilard Nemeth is definitely out with a hamstring injury, while Gaizka Mendieta (calf), Tony McMahon (shoulder) and Ray Parlour (knee) remain on the long-term casualty list.
Chelsea squad: Cech, Cudicini, Gallas, Johnson, Terry, Ferreira, Del Horno, Bridge, Carvalho, Duff, Gudjohnsen, Essien, Lampard, Crespo, J Cole, C Cole, Huth, Geremi, Diarra, Wright-Phillips
Middlesbrough squad: Schwarzer, Jones, Parnaby, Queudrue, Southgate, Ehiogu Riggott, Bates, Boateng, Pogatetz, Rochemback, Morrison, Doriva, Johnson, Kennedy, Yakubu, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Maccarone.
