Drogba boost for Blues
Didier Drogba has been given the all-clear to resume training on Thursday after being carried off against Tottenham on Sunday with a calf injury.
The Ivory Coast international is set to figure in the squad for the trip to Wigan on Saturday after a scan revealed there was no serious damage to his calf.
However, he will not be included for Wednesday night's game against Queens Park Rangers in the Carling Cup and assistant boss Ray Wilkins said: "Didier had a scan and there's no problem with his calf. It was just the most horrendous bout of cramp."
He added: "We thought he couldn't release the muscle and it might be something more nasty but he'll be able to take part on Saturday. It is very good news for us."
Wilkins also confirmed academy players Sam Hutchinson, Fabio Borini and Jeffrey Bruma will be in the squad and Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov will be in the startling line-up against QPR.
"We haven't finalised the side yet but Joe Cole and Zhirkov will both start, which is good news," added Wilkins. "They'll be very important players for us as the season progresses.
"It's nice to see them come back in. When you can't use someone of Joe's ability, any side would miss him. He has that bit of fantasy that can open up defences, so we have missed him.
"But we've coped without him and now we'll have something different now he's come back.
"Zhirkov is a very fluid footballer. He's been out for quite a period but, if he demonstrates half of what he's shown in training, then we've got a very pleasant player on our books.
"The youngsters are all players who have impressed Carlo since he's been here."
