Terry, Cech back for Chelsea

John Terry and Petr Cech will be in Rafael Benitez’s squad for Chelsea’s Premier League fixture against Stoke City on Saturday.

Terry has not featured for the Blues since damaging knee ligaments in a collision with Luis Suarez in a Premier League clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on November 11.

Cech, meanwhile, has been sidelined since hobbling off at half-time against Everton at Goodison Park on December 30, with former Middlesbrough stopper Ross Turnbull deputising in his absence.

Benitez has elected to include Terry in his squad for Saturday’s away trip to Stoke after the Chelsea captain came through 45 minutes of an Under-21 match on Thursday, but he will not start.

“He played yesterday. He was okay,” the Spaniard told reporters. “He has been training today. He is in the squad.

“It’s good news for us. He has been out for 16 weeks.”

Cech will also travel with the squad, but will undergo further assessment before a final decision is made on whether he will feature against the Potters.

Meanwhile, Benitez revealed that Fernando Torres was suffering from a stomach bug during his side’s League Cup defeat to Swansea City on Wednesday.

“I was there when he was with the doctor, needing tablets. Still he was playing with the team. When he starts scoring again the fans they will appreciate this,” Benitez said.

“He was playing with this problem. You have a professional trying to do his best in this situation. I was really pleased with the attitude of Fernando.

“I am really pleased because he was doing this for the team. We had to manage the situation but I could not phone Michael Laudrup and say he was not fit.

“(Demba) Ba couldn’t play, he had a hamstring niggle. I would like to see all my players praised in the papers. But as a top level player you have to accept you can be criticised. He is a very good professional. He had the problem but he was still training and playing.”