Chelsea Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has not recovered from hernia surgery and will miss their game against Blackpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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Lampard requires more work on his groin but could be fit enough for the Carling Cup clash against Newcastle next week.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who was suspended for the Champions League game against MSK Zilina in midweek, returns to the squad. Rested Ashley Cole is back in contention but right-back Jose Bosingwa remains out with a knee injury.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists his father's illness back home in Italy is not preventing him from focusing on his job at Stamford Bridge. The Italian returns home to see his father at every opportunity but, while he accepts it is sometimes emotionally difficult, he has a first-class support system - both at the club and back home.
"My father is not well," said Ancelotti. "He's an old man. When possible I have to go to Italy.
"Whenever possible, I fly back to Italy to see him. He has good support from my sister, so we don't have a problem for this reason.
"It's not difficult to keep my focus. I've spent a lot of time here and, when I'm not here, I have good support from my assistant.
"Everyone knows my situation. I don't have a problem managing the team for this reason. It's difficult, emotionally, when it's your father... but this is life. I have to do my best to stay close to him, but this is the life.
"If it's possible I will go back on Monday. But I will not miss the Carling Cup game against Newcastle next week. The flights are very regular from Gatwick to Bologna."
Gary Taylor-Fletcher is set to return for Blackpool. Taylor-Fletcher missed last weekend's victory at Newcastle with a calf problem but should be fit for the Seasiders' clash with the league leaders.
Alex Baptiste could also be back in action having been sidelined with a fractured hand. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway hopes his side have learned from their heavy defeat at Arsenal not to get star-struck when they take on Chelsea.
The Seasiders go to Stamford Bridge having been thrashed 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium on their previous visit to London last month. It was a chastening experience and one Holloway feels his team could suffer again if they let themselves become overawed by the stature of the players they are lining up against.
"What we've got to realise is that, yes, we are out there and if you get a bit star-struck you end up looking at the person who is taking you on, rather than just watching the ball and dealing with it," Holloway said.
"I felt we did that at Arsenal after the first goal went in. We were fine until then, but then all of a sudden we had let six in.
"I'm still proud of what we tried to do, but we got a lot wrong that day.
"We didn't get tight enough, we didn't get close enough and if we do those things again, it could be very similar on Sunday."
Source: DSG
