Preview: Chelsea vs. Aston Villa

RivalsDM

Jon Obi Mikel hopes to make his first Premiership start for Chelsea against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Michael Ballack started in the midweek Champions League win over Levski Sofia but is serving a domestic three-match suspension.

Joe Cole is recovering from the knee injury he suffered in pre-season.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is set to name an unchanged squad for Saturday's visit to Premiership champions Chelsea.

O'Neill has no fresh injury problems and is likely to name the same 16 who maintained Villa's unbeaten start to the campaign with victory over Charlton last weekend.

The only selection poser appears to be whether or not to recall defender Martin Laursen in place of either Olof Mellberg or Liam Ridgewell.

Last season's leading scorer, Milan Baros, is again almost certain to be on the substitutes' bench.

It will be O'Neill's first meeting with Jose Mourinho since Celtic were beaten by Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.

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Chelsea (from): Cech, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Geremi, Makelele, Essien, Diarra, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Robben, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Shevchenko, Cudicini.

Aston Villa (from): Sorensen, Mellberg, Laursen, Ridgewell, Barry, Davis, Gardner, Petrov, McCann, Agbonlahor, Angel, Moore, Baros, Whittingham, Berger, Hughes, Gardner, Taylor.