TEAM NEWS
Rafael Benitez has admitted he could not guarantee John Terry would be fit for Chelsea's Christmas fixtures. Terry's recovery from knee surgery is proving more problematic than first thought and he will definitely miss Sunday's Barclays Premier League game against Aston Villa. Ramires, John Obi Mikel and Gary Cahill all return from suspension, Daniel Sturridge is available for selection after his hamstring injury, but Ryan Bertrand is doubtful after being forced off in Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Leeds.
Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland is available. The Republic of Ireland international missed the 3-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend through illness. But skipper and central defender Ron Vlaar and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor remain major doubts with calf and thigh problems respectively.
MANAGER QUOTES
Rafael Benitez: "It's one step forward, one step back (for John Terry). The knee is quite complicated. At least he's now on the pitch - that is positive news - but we cannot say, we cannot predict how long it will take. I hope (he will recover soon) but I am not a doctor. So I cannot guarantee anything."
Paul Lambert: "It's unfair for me to turn around and say he's going to be the next Didier Drogba with the career he's had. Christian has only just turned 22. But the potential there is incredible, what he can achieve. He's been absolutely brilliant for me, not just as a footballer but as a guy he is really humble, which is important. He's been brilliant."
MATCH FACTS
Rafael Benitez has suffered just one defeat in 12 meetings with Aston Villa as a Premier League manager (W7 D4).
Villa have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge (L6 D3), but this victory came in their last trip there – 3-1 in December 2011.
Aston Villa's biggest ever Premier League defeat came at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea won 7-1 there in March 2010.
Chelsea have conceded the first goal of the game on only three occasions in the Premier League this season; a league-low.
73% of Aston Villa's Premier League goals this season (11 of 15) have come from strikers; a higher proportion of any other side.
Chelsea have used just 20 players in the Premier League this season; fewer than any other side.
Phil Dowd has awarded more penalties this season than any other referee (5).
Juan Mata has scored in four of his last five games in all comps for Chelsea.
Andreas Weimann has scored five goals in his last six appearances for Aston Villa in all comps.
No player has assisted more goals in the top five European leagues since the start of last season than Eden Hazard (22).
MATCH ODDS
Chelsea 4/11, Villa 8/1, Draw 7/2
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