Saturday February 9, 2013
Kick off: 15:00
Day 26
Stamford Bridge
TEAM NEWS
Captain John Terry is out after suffering inflammation of his knee. Goalkeeper Petr Cech (finger) and Demba Ba (broken nose) are expected to be fit, with the striker in line to play with a protective face mask, while Eden Hazard is available again after serving his three-match ban for his dismissal in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Swansea. David Luiz is available following a calf injury, meaning only John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, who are at the African Nations Cup with Nigeria, and long-term absentee Oriol Romeu (knee) are out.
Wigan captain Gary Caldwell is rated at 50-50 for the match due to a hip injury. Emmerson Boyce also remains doubtful with a hamstring strain despite training this week. Arouna Kone is set to feature after returning from the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.
MANAGER QUOTES
Rafael Benitez on the prospect of Frank Lampard signing a new contract: “I don’t like to talk about the issue. I was very clear in the past and I will be very clear now and in the future, Frank is doing a great job for us, he is scoring goals, playing well and he is a good professional and working very hard. This is all I can say, as I am only the coach. The situation for me is the same, he is playing well and hopefully he can score in every game and break the record.”
Roberto Martinez is hopeful of keeping James McCarthy: “I’m not resigned to losing him, what I am resigned to is seeing him enjoying his football, getting stronger and better and grabbing the chance with both hands to use his experience to help us achieve our aims. I think we all know how it works, the question is asked, he gives an answer and then it’s given a little twist. He’s an outstanding footballer. He’s a young man who is developing and who is enjoying his development and football.”