(BBC) Frank Lampard has given Chelsea a boost by declaring himself fit for today’s FA Cup final against Everton.
The England midfielder sat out last week’s win over Sunderland with a knock but will start at Wembley, with Alex and Juliano Belletti (virus) also fit.
Everton have also received good news on the injury front, with Phil Neville and Steven Pienaar fully fit following recent worries over hamstring problems.
That should enable David Moyes to deploy his favoured 4-5-1 formation.
The 128th FA Cup final, the 75th to be held at Wembley, pits two of England’s form sides against each other.
Chelsea have suffered only one defeat in 21 games under manager Guus Hiddink, while three wins and a draw in their last four games helped the Toffees secure a top-six finish for the fourth season in five.
It is Hiddink’s side who start as favourites, though, with the Londoners desperate to mark the Dutchman’s final match in charge with a trophy before he resumes as manager of national side Russia in the summer.
Chelsea reached the final courtesy of a semi-final defeat of Arsenal at the same ground, while Everton beat champions Manchester United on penalties.
And the Toffees will be keen to upset the odds again today and secure what would be a sixth FA Cup trophy.
Their hopes of doing so may rest heavily on the shoulders of midfielder Tim Cahill, who has once again proven himself a key figure for Everton this season and who has been labelled the club’s “new Alan Ball” by chairman Bill Kenwright.
“The first game David (Moyes) and me went to see a player, Tim Cahill was just mesmeric,” said Kenwright.
“I recall him coming into my office once to just tell me how much he wanted to play for Everton. That was a great thrill for me.
“He is the prince of footballers, he is the new Alan Ball.
“He has the true spirit of Everton, the one who epitomises the never-say-die attitude of the whole squad.”
Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole, meanwhile, could become the first player for more than 100 years to win five FA Cup winners medals, having won the trophy three times with Arsenal and again with Chelsea in 2007.
“It would be a great milestone if I could get it,” said the left-back. “I would be honoured to have the record. It’s a great trophy to win and I would be delighted to win it five times.”
Chelsea: Cech, Hilario, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ivanovic, Carvalho, A Cole, Lampard, Obi, Ballack, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka, Stoch, Di Santo, Deco, Mancienne.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Rodwell, Saha, Fellaini, Nash, Castillo, Vaughan, Jacobsen, Gosling, Baxter.
