Chelsea travel without duo

28 September 2009 15:24
Chelsea have flown to Cyprus for their UEFA Champions League game with APOEL Nicosia without Michael Ballack and John Obi Mikel. However, Ashley Cole has made the trip despite limping off against Wigan at the weekend with fears over his knee. Mikel also picked up a knock in the 3-1 defeat to the Latics and was withdrawn at half-time with a suspected ankle injury. Ballack continues to miss out with a calf strain but Deco and Joe Cole, who missed the Wigan clash with a cold, were both on the flight. Ashley Cole had seemed to be a major doubt for the game after he was forced to come off late on, leaving Chelsea down to nine men, after Petr Cech was sent off and Carlo Ancelotti had used up all his substitutions. Another absentee is striker Didier Drogba who is suspended. Chelsea got their European campaign off to a winning start against Porto last time out while Nicosia got a creditable draw at Atletico Madrid.

Source: SKY_Sports