Teams: Guus Hiddink makes Chelsea omission for Watford clash

ALEXANDRE PATO is not included in the Chelsea squad for their clash with Watford tonight, while Eden Hazard has been dropped to the bench.

 

Alexandre Pato is not in the squad to face Watford

 

Pato, 26, is deemed not ready for the Premier League after only arriving at Chelsea on loan from Corinthians last week.

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink makes four changes from the XI that beat MK Dons 5-1 in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Kurt Zouma replace baba Rahman and Gary Cahill at the back, with Jon Obi Mikel and Willian coming in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eden Hazard in midfield.

All four men will start on the bench, with Diego Costa taking up his usual role up front.

John Terry, who last weekend confirmed he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, partners Zouma in central defence.

 

As for Watford, manager Quique Sanchez Flores makes seven from his XI that edged Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Odion Ighalo is back up top alongside captain Troy Deeney, while new signing Mario Suarez starts on the bench.

Chelsea can move within a point of 10th-place Watford with a win tonight as Hiddink seeks to stretch his unbeaten run in charge to 10 games since his appointment last December.

 

This is the scene inside Vicarage Road ahead of tonight's game... pic.twitter.com/g3X1cAHKLS

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 3, 2016

Watford: Gomes, Paredes, Prodl, Cathcart, Holebas, Behrami, Watson, Capoue, Jurado; Deeney, Ighalo.

Subs: Pantilimon, Nyom, Anya, Suarez, Guedioura, Abdi, Amrabat.

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Oscar, Diego Costa.

Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Baba Rahman, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy, Traore, Hazard.