Demba to be Ba-ck for semi

NOT SO BA-D ... Demba Ba hits the deck during Chelsea's Sunderland win

DEMBA BA has been given the all-clear to lead the Chelsea attack in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

But first manager Rafa Benitez has to deal with a defensive crisis ahead of
tomorrow’s Europa League clash with Rubin Kazan.

Benitez feared that Ba had suffered serious ankle damage during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Sunderland.

But scans have failed to diagnose any ligament damage.

Despite missing training yesterday, Ba will be OK to return to action against City at the weekend.

Benitez said: “Demba didn’t train as a precaution but he says that it is not too serious.”

Ba will not travel to Moscow because he is not eligible after playing in the competition for Newcastle this season.

And Benitez is now sweating on the fitness of full-back Ryan Bertrand, who has missed training for the last two days with a virus.

He said: “Bertrand will fly with us to Moscow and then we will see how he is when we get there.

“We already have Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill missing so we don’t have many options at left-back.”

Cahill is recovering from a minor knee operation while Cole has a hamstring problem.

Benitez, meanwhile, insists he will return to manage Liverpool. He told a Spanish paper: “I will return, almost certainly.”