Ashley Cole has not travelled with the Chelsea squad for this evening’s Champions League clash at Schalke.

The left back has failed to recover from a rib injury in time to feature, so Ryan Bertrand in expected to deputise, with Cole likely to return in time for Sunday’s clash with Manchester City.

Andre Schurrle has made the trip despite missing Saturday’s win over Cardiff City.

Chelsea will go top of Group E if they beat the Bundesliga side, and better Basel’s result in Bucharest.

The Blues last faced the Miners in the group stages of the 2007/08 campaign, drawing 0-0 at the Veltins Arena having won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks earlier.

The club went on to reach the final in Moscow, where they were defeated on penalties by Manchester United.

Captain John Terry is targeting another final appearance this time around having been suspended for the Blues win in Munich in 2012, and has insisted that he is not thinking about his future, according to Sky Sports.

Jose Mourinho has previously stated that the 32 year old ‘need not worry’ about his future at Stamford Bridge.

The former England captain has played every minute of the Blues league campaign so far this season.