Drogba and Lampard ruled out of Villa clash

Chelsea will be without star striker Didier Drogba and key midfielder Frank Lampard when the Premier League champions face Aston Villa on Saturday.

Ivory Coast international Drogba is out with a fever, while England star Lampard has not recovered from a groin strain in time for the clash at Villa Park.

Drogba has been taking antibiotics to cure his illness but is not certain to recover in time for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Spartak Moscow, which Lampard is certain to miss.

“Lampard is getting better but he needs to have maybe two weeks to be fit 100 percent, he had a problem on his adductor and we have to pay attention. He is working individually and needs two weeks,” Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

“Drogba had a fever this week and was not able to train, he started today (Friday) but is not fit.

“He took antibiotics in the last days and needs to train next week and I’ll know if he is available for the game in the Champions League.”

Ancelotti, whose team are four points clear at the top of the table, are also without Brazilian defender Alex with a thigh injury, while Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun is a long-term absentee with a ruptured Achilles.

There was some good news on the fitness front for Ancelotti as captain John Terry is fit after recovering from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from the England duty this week.

There will also be a place on the bench for Portugal right-back Jose Bosingwa, who has been sidelined for a year with a knee injury.