Blues duo return

Posted Sunday, September 20, 2009 by PA

Chelsea will welcome back Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa for the home clash with Tottenham.

The pair were suspended for the midweek Champions League win over Porto but are available for domestic games.

Joe Cole (knee), Yuri Zhirkov (knee) and Paulo Ferreira (knee) are all out with coach Carlo Ancelotti saving their return for next week's Carling Cup tie with Queens Park Rangers.

Defender Alex is still struggling with a groin injury.

Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are on the same level as Manchester United despite Harry Redknapp's dig at the Blues.

Spurs boss Redknapp claims Chelsea have a long way to go before the club are big enough to be classed in the "same bracket as Manchester United".

Chelsea's chief-executive Peter Kenyon quit the club this week - five years after he vowed to "turn the world blue" by 2010, and four years after he pledged to make the Blues "the world's number one club" by 2014.

But since Roman Abramovich took control of the club in 2003, Chelsea have yet to win the Champions League - despite reaching five semi-finals in the last six seasons.

But Ancelotti insists there is parity between them and United.

"Chelsea are on the same level as Manchester United, as a club and as a team," declared Ancelotti.

"The only thing is that Manchester has more tradition in respect to Chelsea, but this means that for us it can be a very good motivation to start this season very well."

Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes stepped up his comeback from a groin injury by playing a friendly against QPR this week.

Full-back Gareth Bale also played following an operation in June to repair a medial meniscal tear on his left knee.

Luka Modric (fibula), Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are still sidelined.

Redknapp insists Tottenham's new mentality will ensure his players will not be daunted by the club's woeful record at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs have not won at Chelsea's home since 1990 but there is a fearless attitude at White Hart Lane after starting the season with four wins in a row before last week's defeat to Manchester United.

Redknapp said: "You get different players. If you ask Wilson Palacios about Tottenham's record with Chelsea he wouldn't have a clue, would he? Sebastien Bassong wouldn't have a clue.

"I don't think it'll be a case of 'we can't beat Chelsea'. We'll go there and it's another game, a game against a top, top team."