Saturday, January 9, 2010

Hull P - P Chelsea Highlights Video

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Hull are confident the weather is good to ensuring Saturday's televised Premier League clash against Chelsea goes ahead.

The club have worked so hard to clear snow around the stadium this week.

In common with most top-level games during this severe winter, it is the areas surrounding the ground and the roads that are the main problem, as the pitch is playable.

With the match kicking off at 12.45pm live on Sky Sports, Hull know they will have little time to play with tomorrow morning.

They would hate a scenario similar to Arsenal on Wednesday in having to call a game off after away fans have started travelling.

Carlo Ancelotti's side, however, absence by their African Nations Cup players. Didier Drogba and Michael Essien among the list of 4 key misses player.

Brown has said the club will have to assess offers for any player but one he is determined to keep is Irish winger Stephen Hunt, who has been linked with Wolves.

Carlo Ancelotti believes the form and fitness of striker Nicolas Anelka will be crucial as Chelsea embark on a run of matches without four key African players.

Anelka has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to return to action against Hull.

The France international has been a revelation this season in a supporting role to 19-goal striker Didier Drogba but has missed the last four games because of his injury.

Drogba, along with Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi, will be absent for much of this month because of their involvement in the African Nations Cup.

But Ancelotti is confident that Anelka, along with 20-year-old Daniel Sturridge, can help fill the void left by Drogba and Kalou.

"He played the first three games in the Champions League without Didier and he did very well for us and that was important.

"It is very important for us to have him, not only for tomorrow but throughout this period.''

Ancelotti is also confident his squad contains enough quality to remain top of the Barclays Premier League until the African quartet return.

The Italian maintains he is not looking to add to his squad in the current transfer window, and denied the club's sporting director Frank Arnesen was in Italy this week checking on Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini.

"We don't have any news,'' added Ancelotti. "We stay with the same squad. I have said that a lot of times.

"We have a good squad and have a very good striker in Daniel Sturridge. We don't need to have another new player.

"Frank was in London on Wednesday, it is not true. Pazzini is not a player who is of interest to us."
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