GUDJOHNSEN OK FOR
VILLA TRIP
The Chelsea squad headed for Birmingham on Tuesday afternoon in
search of a first win at Aston Villa since 1999. Eidur Gudjohnsen,
recovered from his weekend illness, travelled.
Eight visits to Villa Park have passed since Tore Andre Flo
inspired Chelsea to our last win there, Bjarne Goldbaek also
scoring in a 3-0 victory.
The first visit under José Mourinho early last season ended in a
0-0 draw although there was a controversial moment near the end
when Didier Drogba was booked for simulation after a tackle in the
penalty area. Referee Rob Styles later withdrew the booking. Styles
will again referee on Wednesday.
Eidur Gudjohnsen has two days of training behind him following the
illness that forced him to withdraw from Saturdays game at Everton
just minutes before kick-off. The Icelander had been set to play at
the forward point of a midfield diamond four, the first time this
season that José Mourinho had opted for that formation. Instead Joe
Cole was promoted from the bench to fill the position.
Well-again Gudjohnsen is in the squad for Aston Villa, his presence
all the more important due to injury to Carlton Cole. The groin
strain that Cole suffered late in the game at Everton rules him
out.
Another player who did not board the coach to Aston Villa is Paulo
Ferreira. The right-back suffered a thigh muscle injury during
training last week. It kept him out of the Everton game and he has
yet to recover. Goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley has been added to the
squad from the weekend and Ricardo Carvalho is available again
after suspension.
- credit: Paul Mason, The
Official Chelsea FC Website, 31 Jan 2006
