Andre Villas-Boas has insisted Gary Cahill is ready to be thrown in at the deep end in Chelsea's crunch clash with Manchester United.
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Blues boss Villas-Boas confirmed there was a "big possibility" Cahill would finally make his debut in Sunday's Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.
That would be a real baptism of fire for the ?7million January signing,Heath Miller Jersey, who has not kicked a ball in anger for exactly a month but could now come into a defence shorn of its two star men.
Having rejected the chance to blood Cahill in Chelsea's recent matches against Norwich and QPR,Nike Tim Tebow Jersey, Villas-Boas then surprised many by leaving him out for Tuesday's trip to Swansea after captain John Terry was ruled out through injury.
Terry has failed to recover in time for Sunday's game,Michael Vick Jersey, while Ashley Cole is suspended after being sent off at the Liberty Stadium.
Nevertheless,Bart Scott Jersey, Villas-Boas was confident Cahill would be able to help fill the void.
"I think he has been ready from the start,Antonio Brown Jersey, to be fair - he's trained magnificently well,Tim Tebow Jersey," said the Portuguese,Aaron Hernandez Jersey, who reiterated the decision not to play Cahill against Swansea was based on the past performances of his other defenders.
Villas-Boas admitted the loss of Terry and Cole was "massive" because of their partnership on the left side of Chelsea's defence.
"It's a blow more in the sense of those two not being there to link together,Brent Celek Jersey," he said as he mulled over whether to hand young left-back Ryan Bertrand his full Premier League debut on Sunday or move Jose Bosingwa from right-back.
Neither is a an ideal replacement for Cole,Andrew Luck Jersey, who misses a league game for the first time in 65 matches and would have been the Blues' best chance of stopping United winger Antonio Valencia.
The Ecuador international has been back to his best in recent weeks,Robert Mathis Jersey, one of several reasons why Villas-Boas believes the champions now to be favourites to retain their title.
"I think they will be the ones to beat,DeMeco Ryans Jersey," he said.
"This distance to Man City is equal to nothing and,Mike Wallace Jersey, for me, they will be the main favourites."
Villas-Boas has virtually written off Chelsea's title chances but was adamant they would finish in the top four.
"I don't think we'll finish below fourth spot,Demaryius Thomas Jersey," he said,Knowshon Moreno Jersey, adding he was convinced of that.
That conviction will be tested if the Blues do not start scoring more goals,Nike Peyton Manning Jersey, and especially if Fernando Torres' drought continues.
Villas-Boas said: "Off the field,Danny Woodhead Jersey, mentally he is ready,Peyton Manning Jersey, he knows his responsibility, he knows what he has to do.
"On the field and on the training ground,Coby Fleener Jersey, we try and work on his movement. That's the only thing we can do and we have been for quite some time.
"I think eventually we could say that a goal will trigger it all but we have to wait and see because there needs to be continuity after that."
If not,Brett Keisel Jersey, Torres will quickly lose his place again when Didier Drogba returns from African Nations Cup duty.
The Ivory Coast star was reported this week saying he was still open to staying at Chelsea beyond this summer but Villas-Boas would not be drawn on the prospect of reopening contract talks when the striker gets back from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Darren Bent hopes joining the Premier League 100-goals club will serve as a reminder to England boss Fabio Capello of his ability.
Bent: In fine form for Villa Related articles Bent aiming for Euro 2012 place Bent starts road to recovery Bent holds out Euro 2012 hope
Aston Villa striker Bent is desperate to be part of Capello's squad for the Euro 2012 finals.
He suffered heartbreak in missing out on the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads,Ben Roethlisberger Jersey, while England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
When asked if reaching 100 goals would help his England chances, Bent said: "So much has gone on before. I have had times in my career when I have been scoring loads of goals and not been picked before.
"Anything is possible when it comes to that. All I can do is keep reminding people of what I can do and keep trying to put the ball in the back of the net.
"Hopefully a big stat like me getting into the 100 club will help my cause.
"I've said many times how much I want to play in a major tournament for England especially after missing out before."
Bent, who reached the goal milestone during the 2-2 home draw with QPR on Wednesday night, insists he was always committed to remaining at Villa despite being strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in January.
Bent said: "It was laughable. I always knew I was going to be at Villa.
"I have said before,Trent Cole Jersey, I would like to stay at Villa for years and really kick on in my career while playing for Aston Villa.
"It is flattering to be linked with clubs like Liverpool but, at the same time,Tom Brady Jersey, I always knew I was going to be here come February 1 and I am delighted to be here.
"You just laugh it off and get on with it. Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world but at the same time it never crossed my mind once to leave."
Bent,Elvis Dumervil Jersey, 27,LeSean McCoy Jersey, revealed his pride at becoming the 21st player to score 100 goals since the Premier League's inception in 1992.
He said: "It feels fantastic. I have been thinking about it. Ever since I stepped in the Premier League I always thought about joining the 100 club.
"When I got the first one it was a long time ago, so for me to have actually done it now feels fantastic.
"Some of the names in that bracket are fantastic so for me to be amongst them now is great. Hopefully I have still got time to get more goals and push right up there in the 100 club."
Bent's goal sparked a Villa revival,DeSean Jackson Jersey, after QPR had led 2-0.
The former Ipswich,Brian Dawkins Jersey, Tottenham,Jeremy Maclin Jersey, Charlton and Sunderland striker added: "It was difficult to celebrate given the context of the game. Inside you are jumping for joy but at the same time we weren't playing well.
"It was a goal we needed to kick on our performance into the second half."
Andre Villas-Boas knows speculation over his Chelsea future will intensify after their 3-1 Champions League defeat to Napoli on Tuesday night.
Villas-Boas: Under pressure Related articles Terry's CL ban reduced by UEFA Torres seeks Chelsea talks Lampard: Old guard not done yet
Villas-Boas watched his Blues produce their latest defensive horror show to lose their last-16 first leg 3-1 and pile the pressure on their beleaguered boss.
And he acknowledged afterwards his side had shot themselves in the foot yet again as they extended their winless run to five matches.
The Portuguese has repeatedly insisted he has the full backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich but this performance would have done nothing to convince the Russian to deliver the vote of confidence his manager now needs more than ever.
"Speculation will continue as the results don't happen," Villas-Boas said.
Having thrown away leads with alarming regularity both at home and abroad this season,Eric Decker Jersey, Chelsea duly did so again as captain John Terry's injury absence continued to tell.
Juan Mata gave them the dream start but all three of Napoli's subsequent goals were the result of poor defending, even if Edinson Cavani's second carried suspicions of handball.
Villas-Boas said: "We have to solve these mistakes at the back.
"We need this concentration right and this efficiency right,Von Miller Jersey, for sure.
"At the moment,Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey, without John, a very important player for the team,Dwight Freeney Jersey, we have suffered a lot of goals recently.
"We had improved a lot at the beginning of January, so we have missed John.
"But we have full belief in these players and we have to continue to work with them to get it right."
David Luiz's latest mistake was the most costly, gifting Napoli the third goal that made them firm favourites to win the tie.
"It's obvious that that player has become a target,Darrelle Revis Jersey," said Villas-Boas.
"He's a fantastic young player with a big future ahead of him, and he has to work to try and be a bit better.
"We suffered three goals. If he's linked to one,Donald Brown Jersey, he might not be linked to the other two."
As well as taking flak for standing by Luiz,Cullen Jenkins Jersey, Villas-Boas is bound to face criticism for his decision not to start either Frank Lampard or Michael Essien.
Much has been made of the Chelsea boss' relationship with Lampard in particular, but he insisted his team selection was purely tactical,Anthony Gonzalez Jersey, while Ashley Cole did not start after only just recovering from injury.
"You can have your opinion but it was based on what was the best team in my thoughts,Kerry Collins Jersey," Villas-Boas said.
"Whatever explanation I give you,Wes Welker Jersey, in the end it would be a fantastic explanation if we'd won the game.
"Any explanation is now useless given the result of the game,Julian Edelman Jersey, so there's no point."
Villas-Boas, who admitted one of the formations he had been toying with but did not end up using had been written on a piece of paper left at the team hotel,Champ Bailey Jersey, added: "I had a conversation with Ashley and Frank.
"Through the players that they are and the players with the experience they have,Rob Gronkowski Jersey, they felt they could have helped the team.
"That's perfectly understandable."
Only three teams have overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit in Champions League history but a defiant Villas-Boas said: "I want us to be the fourth."
He added: "It's a negative result, of course, but a result we are sure we can turn around at the Bridge due to the amount of chances we had."
Charlie Adam says victory in the Carling Cup will represent the first step on the rung of the ladder which will lead Liverpool back to success.
Adam: Ready for proud occasion Related articles Holders at WBA,Tim Tebow Jersey, United host Toon Ayre: Reds have a great future Carragher: CL is the next step
The Reds have not won a trophy since the FA Cup six years ago and Sunday's encounter against Cardiff is the closest they have come to ending that run since the Champions League defeat to AC Milan in Athens in 2007.
Liverpool start as firm favourites against the npower Championship club and Adam believes it is time for the club to re-enter the winner's circle.
"For me, it will be a proud occasion. This club is a massive club that has won trophies at home and abroad,Troy Polamalu Jersey," said the Scotland international, a summer signing from Blackpool.
"When I came here, I said I wanted to win trophies. Fortunately the final of the first competition of the season has come around,Jason Babin Jersey, and we are in it.
"We've had to work hard to get here and we will do our best to enjoy the occasion but the only way we can do that is by winning it.
"To be part of a team which is successful is great. We are on the first step towards success, and if we can do that, then great.
"When you get the opportunity to win a trophy, you have to take it.
"You can see from the selections the manager has made right throughout this competition that we have wanted to win it from day one.
"Other teams maybe don't play as strong a side as they could,Jacob Tamme Jersey, but we have said from day one that we want to win every competition we enter,Brandon Moore Jersey, and we are still involved in three competitions now."
Like a number of his fellow summer signings,Jerod Mayo Jersey, Adam's first six months have produced mixed fortunes as manager Kenny Dalglish has tried to knit the new arrivals into the side.
All were given extended runs in the team early on, with Adam benefiting from an injury to captain Steven Gerrard, and it is only know they are starting to gel as a more cohesive unit.
Adam,Reggie Wayne Jersey, like Stewart Downing previously,Pat Angerer Jersey, admits there is a step up in terms of pressure when you move to Anfield.
"At the end of the day you know the expectations as soon as you walk through the door,Mark Sanchez Jersey," added the 26-year-old.
"You see the players that have played here, and the amount of trophies that have been won. The expectation is here.
"It takes time for players to settle in, but we have a wonderful support that will back the team to the hilt no matter how well they are playing.
"You have to fight every week to get into the starting 11 at this club. It is a challenge that everybody has to take - it doesn't matter who you are.
"As long as the players are giving 110% for the fans,Chad Ochocinco Jersey, the supporters will accept that.
"We try to do that every week and there have been very few games this season where we have let ourselves down.
"As a group of players hopefully we can achieve something special."
Adam is grateful for the support he has received from Dalglish, who made a failed attempt to sign him in January 2011 only for Blackpool, desperate to hang on to one of their major assets in their fight against relegation, to quote a ?10 million fee.
The Reds returned in the summer with a ?6.75million bid and the Seasiders,Deion Branch Jersey, having gone back down to the npower Championship, accepted.
"He (Dalglish) has put a lot of faith in me," said Adam.
"He brought me here and I owe a lot to him because he gave me the chance to sign for such a wonderful club.
"Kenny is very different to Ian Holloway (the Blackpool manager).
"But I learned a lot from Ian Holloway and I am learning a lot from Kenny Dalglish. No two people are the same."