Drogba set to miss Spartak

Chelsea expect to be without Didier Drogba for their trip to Spartak Moscow due to an illness that has sidelined the powerful striker.

Drogba, who was suspended for the Blues’ first two UEFA Champions League matches, has been struggling with a fever, and will also miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

While coach Carlo Ancelotti would love to have the striker in his squad next week, he has acknowledged that Drogba will be short of fitness due to a lack of training.

“I don’t think he will be able to play on Tuesday because he hasn’t trained this week, and he needs to train,” Ancelotti said.
Recover

“He will be here at Cobham. He’ll have to recover from the illness. We can cope because we will have a fit Salomon Kalou over there.”

Kalou is expected to return from a thigh injury, while Daniel Sturridge should play from the start.

There is an outside chance that midfielder Frank Lampard will be fit enough to travel with the squad after his spell on the sidelines.

“Kalou will be available for the Champions League and Sturridge needs days of recovery,” Ancelotti added.