Torres returns for Blues, but who’d be in your Chelsea XI v FC Basel?

Jose Mourinho is taking 21 players to Switzerland as Chelsea prepare to take on FC Basel in the Champions League group stages.

Fernando Torres has recovered from his adductor muscle injury and returns to the first team squad but David Luiz is unavailable with a bruised patella and is the only injury concern aside from long-term absentee Marco van Ginkel.

The squad travelling to the St Jakob-Park Stadium is as follows:

Cech, Schwarzer, Blackman,

Ivanovic, Cole, Bertrand, Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill,

Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard, Willian,

Eto’o, Ba, Torres.

Basel manager Murat Yakin looks to be without Behrang Safari and Marcelo Diaz for the Blues’ visit but otherwise has a clean bill of health.

The team I’d pick:

I don’t think there would be any point messing around with the winning side from the West Ham game too much but would rest Frank Lampard for this one in place of Willian. I enjoyed Frank’s performance in a more advanced role on Saturday and believe that’s where he ought to play if he’s in the side, but I’m still unsure about the amount of games he is playing and don’t think he really needs to be involved in Switzerland.

It’s a pity that Juan Mata has been left out in the cold up to now and I don’t see that changing as the Spaniard isn’t really being given the opportunity to prove his manager wrong. With the way Oscar played at Upton Park you wouldn’t expect him to sit out this one despite having a few bad games before then, so Mata will probably have to make do with a cameo appearance if he’s to make it on at all.

One man that has fought his way into the side but not in the position you would expect him to be is Cesar Azpilicueta, who has not put a foot wrong at left-back and is a lot more comfortable going forward than Cole has been in the last 18 months even though the Spaniard isn’t operating on his preferred flank. There’s absolutely no reason to drop him for Cole’s sake and Mourinho shouldn’t because he’s doing a fine job.

What team would you pick for Tuesday night’s match against FC Basel? – Have your say in the comments section below