Chelsea v Sunderland

Chelsea are without defender Ricardo Carvalho for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of Sunderland.

The Portuguese injured his thigh in the 3-0 win over Hull City in midweek and could be out for up to three weeks according to coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's initial assessment.

Joe Cole is a doubt after a knock to his ankle in the same ma tch.

Meanwhile Didier Drogba (knee), Michael Ballack (foot) and Michael Essien (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Team Update

Kenwyne Jones is likely to make his first start of the season for Sunderland after recovering from knee ligament damage.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) is still struggling so Marton Fulop is expected to start his third match in a row.

Phil Bardsley suffered a dead-leg at Stoke on Wednesday but he should recover in time.

Roy Keane has said there will be changes after the 1-0 defeat at Stoke City, and Teemu Tainio, Nyron Nosworthy and Pascal Chimbonda are pushing for a return.

Squads

Chelsea: Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Bridge, A Cole, Obi, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Lampard, Sinclair, Mancienne, Belletti, Anelka, Malouda, Stoch, Kalou, Deco, Bosingwa, J Cole.

Sunderland: Gordon, Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Miller, Yorke, Richardson, Reid, Diouf, Jones, Cisse, Chopra, Murphy, Healy, Waghorn.

Possible Scoreline: Chelsea 2 Sunderland 0

Posted in: Chelsea,EPL