Chelsea vs Stoke City - Match Preview

Team news ahead of Chelsea's Premier League match against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Kick-off is at 3pm and the match is not being screened live anywhere in the UK. Chelsea captain John Terry is expected to play for the first time since he underwent surgery on his injured knee. He last played for Chelsea on the January 31st game against Swansea. He returned to training this week and even made the bench for the midweek FA Cup victory at Birmingham. Ashley Cole is fit again having overcome his heel injury that he picked up at the defeat at the Hawthorns last week. Interim manager Roberto di Matteo has reported a full clean of health for Chelsea going into today's game. It is amazing how miraculous the ousting of a disliked manager can effect the availability of players! For Tony Pulis, defender Andy Wilkinson is an injury doubt having overcome the hamstring injury he picked up in the 1-0 win over Norwich last week. In that game he was substituted by winger Jermaine Pennant who this week denied reports that he was given a fine for two breaches of discipline. Late fitness tests will be given to Wilkinson and also long throw specialist Rory Delap who is battling through a hamstring complaint.

Line-ups from;

Chelsea (from): Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Meireles, Kalou, Sturridge, Torres, Mata, Essien, Hilario, Drogba, Lukaku, Bosingwa, Turnbull. Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Upson, Shotton, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Wilson, Woodgate, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Diao, Pennant, Delap, Arismendi, Palacios, Jones, Fuller, Jerome, Crouch, Walters