Captain Ron Vlaar could return for Aston Villa against Chelsea in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match after resuming training this week.

The defender has been sidelined with a knee injury since limping out against Crystal Palace on New Year's Day.

Philippe Senderos is likely to sit out again with his calf problem and Libor Kozak continues to recover from a broken leg but Joe Cole may make the squad after a hamstring injury.

Christian Benteke has been watching video nasties after boss Paul Lambert revealed they have gone back to basics to revive his season.

The striker has bagged just two league goals this term after returning from a ruptured Achilles in October.

Villa have failed to score in 10 hours and 12 minutes in the league - since Benteke netted against Manchester United in December.

But the striker has struggled since and has been studying videos with the Villa coaching staff of where he can improve in a bid to rescue his form.

Lambert said: "He has looked at them himself, it's not something which has gone unnoticed by anyone. We look at them and show him things. It will make him stronger.

"He is not naive, he knows what's going on. The big thing is to help him and help the team get him back to where he was.

"He could well be (watching videos at home), but we have sat with him as staff and showed him things he can improve on."

Deadline day signing Juan Cuadrado could make his Chelsea and fit again playmaker Cesc Fabregas could also feature for the leaders.

Filipe Luis (calf) remains out, alongside the suspended Diego Costa, who serves the second of his three-match ban for his stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can.

Jose Mourinho could be tempted to restore Petr Cech in goal after Thibaut Courtois' uncharacteristic mistake in the build-up to Manchester City's equaliser last Saturday, while Kurt Zouma is again likely to start in defence ahead of Gary Cahill.

Mourinho spoke publicly for the first time in 10 days on Friday and refused to hide his simmering resentment towards the media over Costa's suspension.

The Blues boss, who risked a Premier League fine for avoiding media duties either side of last weekend's draw with City, was unhappy with the portrayal of the challenge between Costa and Can.

Asked why he had not spoken to the media since immediately after advancing to the Capital One Cup final at Liverpool's expense on January 27, Mourinho said: "Because if you (the media) want, you can make a silence very noisy. Depends what you want to do.

"You could make noise with my silence, because you know the reason for my silence. It depends on you. If I was a journalist I could make from silence, lots of words."

Mourinho in December spoke of a "clear campaign" against his side.

He was fined B£25,000 the day after the Liverpool win for those comments.

Asked if the reason for his absence was because of Costa's suspension Mourinho, who chose not to discuss the incident, said: "Not just (Costa's ban). I don't reflect. Maybe I'm punished to reflect.

"Maybe they (football's authorities) can read my reflection and (that) I don't want."

Managers are required to speak before and after matches under Premier League broadcast regulations.

Mourinho, who often wears a smile but did not on Friday, added: "You know why I'm here so you cannot expect that I'm super happy to be here."

Mourinho responded "yes" when asked if he was in attendance because he was required to be.

He risks a fine from the Premier League for his absence, although possibly not as big a financial penalty as the one which he would likely have been subjected to had he spoken around the City clash.

"You know the only surprise I had in relation to that was to be punished when I was pushed by another manager (Arsenal's Arsene Wenger)," Mourinho said.

"Apart from that I can expect everything."

http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/match/395545/aston-villa-chelsea/preview

Booked!

Chelsea missing list: Cesc
Fabregas, Willian,
John Obi Mikel and Filipe Luis
could all miss Aston Villa clash.. too bad

Match Facts
Jose Mourinho has never won against Aston
Villa at Villa Park in the Barclays Premier
League with Chelsea (W0 D3 L2).
Aston Villa and Newcastle United are the
only two top-flight teams Jose Mourinho has
failed to win an away league match against
as Chelsea manager.
Branislav Ivanovic made his BPL debut
against Aston Villa and has scored four
goals in his last five starts against them in
the competition.
Aston Villa have gone five hours and 42
minutes without a goal in the league at Villa
Park.

Na lose for chelsea be dat..

---

make una no swallow me abeg

Chelsea Fried Chicken...Will Villa take a bite?

OK

Villa's home stats against CFC sha.....might b a plus for dem.

3-1

if aston villa wins jega will postponed the election

another 3 points in the bag for the best team in the world.
go blues.

From the day of OBJ, GMB and GEJ, Aston Villa are favorite to win Chelsea and today's own won't be an exception. Sorry to chelsea fans.

It abt dat time blus army Come on, blus army.
Come on, let make dis a blue day. Go 4 d 3points
#ktbffh

ojubi:
another 3 points in the bag for the best team in the world.
go blues.

Sorry, dt won't happen today. Villa are usual husband to Chelsea. Lol

aston villa 0 vs 5 chelsea

philtex:
aston villa 0 vs 5 chelsea

In ur dreams!!!
Don't give up on ur dreams keep sleeping my dear

nollyway:
Na lose for chelsea be dat..

---

make una no swallow me abeg

[color=#000099]
[b]

Common sense isn't common

Na common sense u nor get so.

Reporting for duty.....here to give mukina2 and all Arsenal losers my support

lol... André Schürrle just scored for his new club

C'mon Villa

I am here o

Freiburger:
lol... André Schürrle just scored for his new club

goodnews. . .back to the lecture at hand

Oya let's go der Chelski while City draw to Hull sure banker

COME ON BLUES!!!