Chelsea-Hull City Preview

Feb 1, 2010 - 7:59 AM CHRIS TUPLING STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists John Terry will remain club captain as the Premier League leaders prepare for their match at relegation-threatened Hull on Tuesday.

Newspapers reports about Terry's private life had led to speculation that the 29-year-old defender could lose the club captain's armband but Ancelotti has responded quickly to back his skipper.

"There is no discussion about this." Ancelotti said. "He is captain and he will be captain. The players never lose their trust in him.

"I am a manager and only want to speak about his work. He is a fantastic professional.

"All the club, the players, management and staff are supporting him and his family at this time."

Terry headed a 82nd-minute winner to earn Chelsea a 2-1 win on Saturday at Burnley and victory at Hull would see the Blues stretch their lead over defending champions Manchester United to four points.

Ancelotti hailed Terry's winning goal and all round performance at Burnley.

"John played a fantastic game," Ancelotti declared. "I don't want to talk about his personal life, he is doing his job very well every day in every training session, and for this I am not worried."

Chelsea are likely to have leading scorer Didier Drogba back in the team at the KC Stadium following his return from international duty with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Striker Drogba grabbed both goals as Chelsea beat Hull 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season on 15 August, in what was Ancelloti's first league game in charge of the Blues.

Drogba's international teammate Salomon Kalou is also available again to add his fire power to the Chelsea squad.

Hull's on-loan striker Amr Zaki could make his first start for the Tigers, after coming off the bench in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton. But inspirational midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who has been out since early December with knee trouble, is again likely to be missing.

Hull manager Phil Brown hinted that Bullard will feature in next Saturday's home match with Manchester City, but is unlikely to face the Blues. He said: "Tuesday's game (against Chelsea) will probably be a bit soon for him."

Hull remain second from of the Premier League after drawing with Wolves despite twice taking the lead. Tigers boss Brown expressed his frustration that his team failed to go on and claim all three points against fellow strugglers Wolves.

"Defensively the lapses have to stop," Brown said. "We have to minimise the mistakes we're making.

"Having gone in front twice I'm the more disappointed manager I would imagine.

"The two goals we conceded were poor."

Chelsea have won their last four league matches and have lost just once in 14 games. They won all three league matches and both FA Cup ties played in January. Hull, meanwhile, have gone nine league matches without a win and their last victory was back on November 25 when they beat Everton 3-2 at the KC Stadium.