Is Mikel back for Sunday?

[BLUENUT]

Or has he gone on one of these mysterious missing spells like they do when their knocked out of the ACN.

I'd pick Maka ahead of him anyway....was just wondering

[Bodzilla]

Maka definitely starts, but I'd rather have Mikel on the bench rather then Sidwell.

[dkw]

i wouldnt be surprised to see mikel start on sunday. maka looked very tired v pompey last week. did he play for france this week?

[Butch]

More importantly, will Essien and Drogba, now that their respective countries have been knocked out of the ACN? Or are they not in the right frame of mind to play?

Cheers,

Butch

[Gem]

They've still got to play the 3rd place play off Butch, won't get them back for Liverpool.

If Mikel is back and playing, we'll have 10 men for the majority

[shammy feen]

f*ck the 3rd/4th place play-off....!

I doubt Drogba, Kalou or Essien have any interest in that match and would much prefer to play against Liverpool than in that meaningless match.

[dkw]

from f365

Mikel John Obi has vowed to clean up his disciplinary record as he prepares to return to Barclays Premier League action against Liverpool on Sunday.

Mikel is back at Chelsea after helping Nigeria to reach the last eight of the African Nations Cup.

They eventually went out to hosts Ghana but before jetting off for the tournament, Mikel was red-carded against Everton.

It was the fourth dismissal of his Chelsea career and Mikel says he must learn to improve his disciplinary record.

"I think it is going to stop," said Mikel. "We will have to see but I don't like that, it is not good for the team to be down to 10 men and I am trying all my best to make sure I don't get red cards."

During his absence from the domestic scene, Chelsea won five and drew once, despite a much depleted squad.

But Mikel was back in training on Wednesday alongside injured team-mates Frank Lampard and Andriy Shevchenko, and admits he is pleased to be back.

so hes back and wanting to stop the reds. good news all round.

[BLUENUT]

What about Drog's and Ess?

[dkw]

nope. they have to play the 3rd v 4th tomorrow i think.

[Elliott]

Mikel will be available, if rested enough to play.

Drogba and Essien play against each other tomorrow, as stated, for 3rd place.

I shouldnt imagine that they will be back until next monday/tuesday?

[BLUENUT]

Mikel will be available, if rested enough to play.

Drogba and Essien play against each other tomorrow, as stated, for 3rd place.

I shouldnt imagine that they will be back until next monday/tuesday?

Oh well

[ethicalstrategy]

Mikel will be available, if rested enough to play.

Drogba and Essien play against each other tomorrow, as stated, for 3rd place.

I shouldnt imagine that they will be back until next monday/tuesday?

Oh well

Good news is that they will be back for the Huddersfield game! (and the CC final too)

[MannyJello]

i wouldnt be surprised to see mikel start on sunday. maka looked very tired v pompey last week. did he play for france this week?

maka was on the subs bench, but didn't play in the friendly against spain.

Anelka played 58 minutes before being subbed off.