Return of fit Fabregas boosts Blues' hopes against Everton

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been handed a major fitness boost after revealing Cesc Fabregas will be back in the lineup for Everton's visit on Wednesday.

The Spanish star went off with a hamstring injury during the Blues' League Cup semifinal victory over Liverpool and missed the draw with Manchester City and Saturday's win at Aston Villa.

But Mourinho confirmed Fabregas will be back in midfield for the showdown at Stamford Bridge as the Blues aim to maintain their seven-point lead over City at the top of the standings.

"I think he (Fabregas) plays on Wednesday because on Saturday it was a decision to protect him," Mourinho said.

"We didn't want to risk two players at the same time. We risked with Willian and to start two players with a risk is a big gamble and we gambled with only one."

In the absence of Fabregas, Ramires had been selected in midfield, alongside Nemanja Matic, following his own return to full fitness and Mourinho said it was a great help to have such quality in reserve.

"The best Ramires is back and the best Ramires played against Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa," said the manager.

"He is a different profile of player (compared with Fabregas) but he is a fantastic player for us."

Mourinho also hailed Branislav Ivanovic following his superb winning goal in the 2-1 success at Villa.

"Every striker in the world would be proud to score that magnificent goal," he said.

"For a rightback whose left foot is not his best one it was an amazing goal, especially when it was the winning goal. If you score that goal and it is 3-0 or 4-0, it is a different thing.

"I am very happy because he is a great guy and what he is doing for us is unbelievable with the foot injury he had against Liverpool when he played the rest of the game, and he played against Man City and Aston Villa.

"He is one of the best signings. He came immediately after I left Chelsea and after that he made a fantastic contribution for this club."

Everton has not won in the league at Stamford Bridge since November 1994, but defender Bryan Oviedo believes Roberto Martinez's side can defy recent history and end that barren run.

One win in eight league games doesn't suggest an upset is in the cards, with Everton sitting 12th in the standings and only seven points above the relegation places.

But the Toffees' only defeat in their last six games was a penalty shootout FA Cup exit at West Ham and they head to London after drawing 0-0 with Merseyside rivals Liverpool last Saturday, thanks to a third successive shutout.

Oviedo played his part in recording the whitewash after filling in at leftback in place of Leighton Baines, who is again doubtful with a knee injury, and the Costa Rican international is looking to erase his disappointment at not beating Liverpool by slowing Chelsea's title charge.

"We can use that game to change the result. It will be a very good game against Chelsea and we have a big opportunity to pick up a win against them," he said.

"We need to keep progressing and we need to continue to build. It's good because we have a game on Wednesday which is a chance to do so.

"The most important thing for us is to go to Stamford Bridge and win points.

"We feel confident and we want to continue like that. We know it is going to be a very difficult game because Chelsea is the best team in the league at the moment.

"But we need to work hard and concentrate on a very important game."