Mata and Mikel out for Blues

JUAN MATA and John Obi Mikel will be out of the firing line when Chelsea and Manchester United renew hostilities tonight.

Three days after their stormy Premier League battle of the Bridge, Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo is preparing to send out a shadow team to give his weary stars a well-earned rest.

Chelsea are already without suspended captain John Terry, Fernando Torres and Branislav Ivanovic as well as the injured Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

They will be joined in the home stand by midfielders Mata, 24, and Mikel, 25, in a bid to avoid any further controversy involving the duo.

Di Matteo said: “It’s tricky. We have Ivanovic, Torres and Terry suspended, Lampard is out injured and Cole’s ankle is swollen and won’t recover in time.

“That reduces the squad and it’s also our fourth big game in 10 days so we are looking to freshen the team up a bit and put a couple of youngsters in.

“This type of game is a good opportunity for some of them. It will be great to see them perform.”

Daniel Sturridge, Cesar Azpilicueta, Lucas Piazon, Oriol Romeu and Marko Marin are in line to play in a team which could feature as many nine changes to the side beaten 3-2 by United on Sunday.