Lineups Announced For the Villa Match

Carlo Ancelotti has announced his side for tomorrow's game at Villa Park:

Starting (4-3-3): Petr Cech; Ashley Cole, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira; John Obi Mikel, Ramires, Michael Essien; Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, Gael Kakuta.

Out: Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Alex, Yossi Benayoun, Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge.

At the rate Chelsea players are getting hurt I'll be suiting up at Stamford Bridge by March. In slightly happier news, Jose Bosingwa returns to the bench, joining the first team squad for the first time in more than a year.

A couple of quotes from Carlo after the jump:

"[Lampard] is getting better but he needs to have some weeks again, maybe two weeks to be fit 100 percent, he had a problem on his adductor and we have to pay attention. He is working individually and needs two weeks again."

We are never going to see Frank again, are we?

"Drogba had a fever this week and was not able to train, he started today but is not fit."

Drogba's absence will be pretty interesting. Although he scores a lot of goals, I've long felt that the shape of the team is hurt by using him as the focal point of any attack rather than just relying on the overall quality of the rest of our attacking players, but going from him to Kakuta is a downgrade any way you slice it. Last year's league win against the Villans came without Drogba in the lineup (Lampard scored four goals), and he netted the opening goal in the 2-1 loss a year ago.

PS: I wonder if Droggles's immune system takes dives too?