Kurt
Zouma is set to start for Chelsea in their FA Cup third-round clash with
Peterborough on Sunday after 11 months out with injury.
The defender has not featured for the Blues since suffering a knee injury
against Manchester United in February 2016.
But Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte said: "He's ready to start. I'm pleased
for him. He deserves to start the game.
"Also for him it is a good opportunity to show me he's in good form and to
give me another opportunity when I go to choose the starting XI."
Conte also plans to start Michy Batshuayi for the first time since October
as Chelsea look to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham which
ended their 13-game winning run in the Premier League.
Peterborough are eighth in League One and undefeated since November 22.
"We have nothing to lose," said Posh manager Grant McCann. "So we will try
and get between Chelsea's lines, win some corners and get some shots off on
goal. We will try and play on the front foot, like we do in every game.
Team news
Chelsea boss Conte is set to rotate his team, with Eden Hazard, Diego Costa
and David Luiz likely to be rested. Club captain John Terry is a potential
starter.
Midfielder Brad Inman should return to the Peterborough squad after missing
Monday's draw at League One leaders Scunthorpe.
Recent signings Martin Samuelsen and Dominic Ball could feature for the
visitors.
Opta stats
Chelsea have not been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage
since 1997-98, when they lost to 5-3 to Manchester United.
The Blues have lost just one of their last 35 FA Cup home games against
lower-league opposition - this was their surprise 4-2 defeat to Bradford
City in 2014-15.
Peterborough have shipped five goals in both of their previous FA Cup games
against Chelsea - 5-1 in the sixth round in 1965 and 5-0 in the third round
in 2001.
Chelsea have scored in all 39 FA Cup games that they have played at home
since January 2000.
Chelsea's last five goals in the FA Cup have all been scored by different
players (Hazard, Gary Cahill, Costa, Bertrand Traore and Willian).
Peterborough haven't beaten a top-flight side in the FA Cup since defeating
Arsenal in the fourth round in 1965, losing 19 ties since.
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
I don't see problems flaring up at Chelsea after the Tottenham loss and
we'll see that the likes of Batshuayi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Branislav
Ivanovic and Terry will all be ready to come in and perform.
Peterborough are a team who can score a few goals in their league but
they've been really disappointing in recent weeks and I see it being a long
afternoon for them.
'd look at somebody like Willian to produce and prove why he should be
starting ahead of Pedro.
Charlie predicts: 5-0 and Willian to score first (45/1 with Sky Bet)
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